Supervisor Mourns the Loss of Officer Boyer and Expresses Concern for
Law Enforcement Facing Extraordinary Challenges Post-AB 109 and Props. 47/57
In the wake of the shooting death of Officer Keith Boyer, a 27-year veteran of the Whittier Police Department, a motion by Supervisor Kathryn Barger, co-authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn, calls for a full investigation into the suspect’s involvement with the state parole system and county probation supervision.
“Along with numerous elected officials and public safety leaders across the state, I am very concerned about the safety of our law enforcement community in light of legislative and voter-approved changes to our criminal justice system,” said Supervisor Barger who noted that in October, Sergeant Steve Owen in the Antelope Valley was also murdered by someone with a lengthy criminal history.
Between Proposition 47 which reduced drug and some property crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, AB 109 which transferred state prisoners to county probation supervision, and Proposition 57 which will grant early release to prisoners with serious and violent criminal backgrounds, police officers and sheriff deputies face additional and considerable threats on the job.
“The County must do everything in its power to provide the highest level of public safety to our residents and our law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line every day,” Barger added. “My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Officer Boyer and the Whittier Police Department.”