Sheriff Balks at Anti-Racial Profiling Bill

Sheriff Bill Brown took exception to an anti-racial profiling bill signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown that requires law enforcement agencies to keep records of the age, race, and gender of people stopped and questioned. Brown objected the bill would impose additional burdens on law enforcement, diverting funding from more immediate public safety needs. “In Santa Barbara we’ve made it clear racial profiling will not be tolerated any time it rears its ugly head,” he said. “In that way, it’s kind of a solution in search of a problem.” Brown’s criticisms were echoed by Santa Barbara Assistant Police Chief Frank Mannix, who noted that the bill will not apply until 2023 for an agency the size of the Police Department.