SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A new law that goes into effect in January removes wording in the California Education Code that said school police departments are not vested with general policing powers. The wording caused confusion because the Penal Code says that school officers are authorized to do general policing.
Critics claim that lawmakers have increased school police powers under the guise of cleaning up the language, The Sacramento Bee reports. The new law changes the Education Code to say only a school district security department is supplementary to city and county law enforcement agencies and not vested with general police powers.
Last year, the law caused friction when accusations arose that the Twin Rivers Unified School District Police Department overstepped its authority by actively policing areas away from school campuses.
Related Articles:
