- Bill would grant some correctional officers peace officer status.
- Debate continues over California’s elderly parole law.
- Mayor Jerry Dyer’s father dies. A celebration of his life is scheduled for April.
A bill to designate correctional officers as peace officers — inspired by a Fresno County correctional officer who died five years ago — passed a state Assembly committee this week.
Authored by Assemblymember Juan Alanis, R-Modesto, AB 2004 would grant correctional officers — specifically in Fresno and San Joaquin counties — the same rights as deputy sheriffs. Alanis said 40 other counties recognize correctional officers as peace officers.
The bill is inspired by Toamalama Scanlan, a Fresno County correctional officer shot in the head in 2016 at the jail while responding to a shooter in the lobby. The former Fresno State defensive end died in 2021 from his injuries. Alanis said Scanlan was excluded from the California Peace Officers Memorial because his position is not considered a peace officer…