FRESNO (KMJ) — Four big valley names in law creation and law enforcement highlighted the impact of Proposition 47 in a town hall discussion Friday morning.
Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims, Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer, and Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp were all there. They collectively agreed that certain crimes had increased since the passing of the new law, which downgraded particular offences from felonies to misdemeanors.
“Governor Brown should be ashamed of himself”, announced DA Smittcamp.
It was organized by State Assemblyman Jim Patterson.
“Part of the solution here, are events like this. Opportunities for us to understand what is happening”, he explained to the crowd of local residents.
“Go to the ballot box this next time, with a full understanding of the consequences of what’s being told to us”.
The ‘Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act’ was passed by the electorate in November 2014.
“We saw the handwriting on the wall, and it became obvious that it amounted to a public safety bait and switch”.
Hear the full report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew:
