California Lawmakers Hold Discussion On Police Tensions

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — California lawmakers held a joint hearing on Monday to discuss police and community relations in the state in hopes of tackling the issue on a larger scale.

They said it's become apparent to them that they need to look how the police and the community are coexisting and how the police police themselves.

Members of the state's public safety committees came together to listen and learn about the ongoing issues between cops and the communities they serve.

The deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and Eric Garner in New York raised concerns and sparked unrest in California and across the nation.

Among the current proposals in the state is a bill that would have police-involved shootings investigated by a state-created board. That would be in place of local district attorneys, who some feel are too close.

Christina Achenga's cousin Ernest Duenez, Jr. was killed after being shot 11 times by a Manteca officer as he tried to run, all caught on tape. The officer claimed a 4-inch blade in Duenez's hand caused him to fear for his life, but the city later settled with the family for more than $2 million.

"We cannot move forward unless we have accountability," she said. "We have to see action. I mean, if we don't see action, you know, we're going to continue to see violence on the streets and people dying."

But some, like former Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinness say the problem may be over-exaggerated.

"The reality is in most cases in a day in and day out basis, law enforcement officers interact very effectively with the communities they serve," he said.