Cycles

Explicit content warning

04/01/19 • 37 min

This episode explores how California arrived at the point where it is considering the nation’s toughest statewide standard for justifying deadly force, looking back at the decade since police shot and killed Oscar Grant in Oakland and the momentum created by last year’s death of Stephon Clark in Sacramento. Additional music for this episode by Lee Rosevere.

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Introducing Force of Law

After police killed an unarmed black man in his grandparents' backyard, activists set out to change California law, hoping to make it easier to prosecute police who kill. That's sparked a heated debate in the state Capitol between families who have lost loved ones to police, and law enforcement officers who face split-second decisions while performing a dangerous job. Reporter Laurel Rosenhall explores California's attempt to curb police shootings as politicians consider the nation's toughest statewide standard for justifying deadly force.

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Split

Lobbying is under way in Sacramento for two vastly different approaches to reduce police shootings. Victims’ families and civil rights advocates are pushing a tougher standard for police to use deadly force, while law enforcement officers promote a plan to increase training. Additional music for this episode by Lee Rosevere.