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Independent police auditors report four taser uses; warn DEI and immigration policy shifts complicate local policing
Summary
Davis's independent police auditor reported four uses of conducted-energy devices (tasers) are under review and flagged two statewide and federal issues ' changes to DEI policy and uncertainty over communication with federal immigration agents ' that are complicating local law enforcement planning.
The independent police auditor updated the Davis Police Accountability Commission on March 2025 investigatory activity and broader issues affecting local policing, saying auditors logged several use-of-force incidents and warned of new federal and state pressures that could unsettle local procedures.
Steven Connolly, independent police auditor, and Mike Gianoco told the commission the office added four uses of conducted-energy devices (tasers) to the case log and has completed reviews of two complaint investigations. Connolly said the auditors expect to present findings on the four use-of-force cases at the commission's April meeting.
On broader legal and operational matters, Gianoco flagged two trends that are "definitely bubbling up" around the country and may affect local departments: recent federal direction and related political pressure to curtail language and programs tied to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and heightened uncertainty about whether and how to communicate with federal immigration enforcement.
Gianoco said the DEI issue has led some institutions to remove DEI language from public materials to comply with federal grant conditions, although he said he had reviewed UC Davis's website and found DEI material still in place there. On immigration, he described a difficult operational calculus: some chiefs worry that notifying federal agents of planned activity could be perceived as collaboration by the community, while not knowing that another law-enforcement operation is occurring in-city can create safety and deconfliction problems.
Commissioners asked about grant dependencies and whether Davis receives federal COPS or other Department of Justice funding; Kelly, assistant city manager, confirmed the department does receive some federal grant funds. Commissioners and auditors discussed how federal grant terms could create tensions with local policies and state law that severely restrict collaboration with immigration authorities.
The auditors said they have not seen investigations specifically tied to surveillance-technology complaints in the recent period but noted that an absence of formal complaints does not mean community concerns do not exist. Gianoco told the commission he and Connolly had not observed policy misuse in the items reviewed so far but cautioned the broader legal environment makes local decisions about communication and policy implementation more fraught.
Connolly and Gianoco said they would return in April with completed reports on the logged use-of-force cases and invited commissioners to submit any follow-up questions in advance.
