Guest Opinion: SB 1464 is a horrible bill to make police enforce health orders

By Sue Frost–
With the legislature back in session, legislation has recently been introduced that compounds the progressive pillars of excessive mandates and defunding police. Below, I would like to explain what this bill is, and why I believe it is a horrible idea.

Over the past couple years, we saw an onslaught of public health orders introduced at the state and local levels in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These health orders came with requirements for masks in public places, the closing of businesses, and other aspects of “social distancing.”

In response to the health orders, many law enforcement agencies announced that they would not be dedicating resources to the enforcement of health. In response, we now have Senate Bill (SB) 1464 which would deny funding to any law enforcement agency (like the Citrus Heights Police Department) that adopts a policy to not enforce health orders in the future, and transfer that funding to public health agencies that are unelected and do not answer directly to the people.

During my campaign for County Supervisor, I made a promise that when I vote I will always ask the questions: Is it constitutional? Can we afford it? And does it make sense for our community? For this bill, the answer is no on all three counts.

It is not constitutional. The mandate would impede the constitutional discretionary authority of elected Sheriffs, and the constitutional discretionary authority of elected County Supervisors who are best able to act in the interest of their community.

We cannot afford it. During the COVID lockdown, Sacramento County saw a reduction in staff at the Sheriff’s department. We lost officers who retired or resigned, and the circumstances of the COVID pandemic regulations disrupted our normal annual training and recruitment, leaving us short by 138 deputies.

COVID mandates exacerbated the homeless problems as we were instructed not to move homeless camps. We saw increases in response times and the shifting of officers off certain assignments to partake in patrols. Ultimately, the citizens of Sacramento County shouldered the burden.

It does not make sense for our community. We need more law enforcement funding, not less. Along with the COVID challenges, more than 20,000 inmates were released from jails statewide in 2020, we are coincidentally seeing an increase in violent crimes. So, with crime up and law enforcement staffing down, why would anyone see it as appropriate to further reduce law enforcement budgets?

During my years as a Supervisor, I have watched as the legislature has systematically eliminated tools and disabled law enforcement when it comes to enforcing the law. Felony crimes in California have been reduced to a misdemeanor. Anyone can walk into their local store and steal up to $950 worth of merchandise without serious consequences. For large corporations, this is just considered “a cost of doing business” but for small businesses this is one more nail in the coffin of their dying business.

Homeless individuals can defecate on sidewalks and drug users can scatter their needles throughout our parks. The unintended consequences of policy over time have stripped our law enforcement of tools that used to keep neighborhoods and businesses safe.

It is hard to imagine a world where we enter another pandemic (assuming this one ever officially ends) and it is silly to assume that law enforcement has the time to send a deputy to issue a citation to every person who enters a public space without a mask.

SB 1464 seems to imply that those who were not ready to comply were worse offenders than the 20,000 people released from jails. No one who wishes to not wear a mask or follow social distancing protocol has any right to harass or assault a public health worker or a customer service employee who asks them to follow such protocols and anyone who becomes less than peaceful under such circumstances is likely deserving of the attention of law enforcement.

At the same time, if a person peacefully or respectfully declines as a form of protest or exercise of medical freedom, it is their right and law enforcement is bound by their oath to uphold those rights.

Defunding law enforcement agencies for how they prioritize their response to crime in the community is entirely backwards. Perhaps a carrot in the form of additional resources to enforce laws already on the books rather than the stick of defunding already overburdened agencies is a better approach to enhancing public safety.

I hope our legislators see the flawed logic and withdraw SB1464.

Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost formerly served as a Citrus Heights councilwoman and currently represents District 4, which includes Citrus Heights.  She can be contacted at (916) 874-5491, or SupervisorFrost@saccounty.net.

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