On September 14th, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2004 into law.
This bill provides the title of peace officer to both our correctional officers and those employed with the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office. It takes effect January 1, 2027.
Correctional officers working in county jails perform essential custodial duties including the care, supervision, security, movement and transportation of incarcerated persons. These responsibilities are carried out in volatile environments that present significant risks to the officers, who often serve as the first and only line of defense in responding to incidents and emergencies within detention facilities. As correctional deputies, they will be allowed to carry firearms while on duty. Their families will now also be entitled to specific line-of-duty death benefits that were not afforded to them in the past.
Assembly Bill 2004 is referred to as “The Scanlan Bill.” Toamalama Scanlan was a Fresno County Sheriff correctional officer who passed away in 2021 due to severe injuries he suffered in 2016. During that time an armed suspect entered the Fresno County Jail lobby, fired a gun, striking Scanlan and another correctional officer, Juanita Davila. She would go on to recover from her injuries.
To watch a short clip of Sheriff Zanoni addressing the media, visit: https://youtu.be/WDmTUuMJM3w
