8 June 2020
Eloy Ortiz Oakley wants to change how police officers in California are trained.
Oakley is the chancellor of the state’s 115 community colleges and consequently oversees one of the largest training networks for California police. Eighty percent of police officers in California get training at a community college, according to the college system.
Oakley said last week that law enforcement curriculum at the community colleges needs a review to make sure it does a better job reflecting the experiences of black Californians and other people of color. The police killing of George Floyd, a Minnesota man arrested because of a suspected counterfeit $20 bill, sparked nationwide protests and led to Oakley’s comments.
A systemwide review of police and first-responder training and curriculum at community colleges would require a vote from the system’s Board of Governors. The next meeting of the board is in July, and Oakley, reached by CalMatters by phone at a protest in Newport Beach, said he didn’t plan to put such a review to a vote yet.
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