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Podcasts Take Two
Calif. court rules police must release names of officers involved in shootings
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May 30, 2014
Listen • 4:52
Calif. court rules police must release names of officers involved in shootings
The California Supreme Court ruled yesterday that law enforcement must release the names of officers involved in shootings. But police in Long Beach long argued that officers' safety could be jeopardized if that information was released.
Doug Zerby's friends showed up at a news conference to support his family, who plans to sue the Long Beach Police Department for shooting the unarmed Zerby on Sunday, December 12.
Doug Zerby's friends showed up at a news conference to support his family, who plans to sue the Long Beach Police Department for shooting the unarmed Zerby on Sunday, December 12, 2010.
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Frank Stoltze/ KPCC
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The California Supreme Court ruled yesterday that law enforcement must release the names of officers involved in shootings. But police in Long Beach long argued that officers' safety could be jeopardized if that information was released.

The California Supreme Court ruled yesterday that law enforcement must release the names of officers involved in shootings.

The decision stems from a 2010 case in Long Beach when the police department withheld the names of two officers involved in an incident. They claimed the officers' safety could be jeopardized if that information was released.

Jessica Levinson, professor of law at Loyola Law School, explains more about the case and its ramifications for public safety.