POST panel outlines decertification process, timelines and reporting duties under SB 2

Representatives of the California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) held a virtual Q&A on the agency’s decertification process under Senate Bill 2, answering pre-submitted and live questions about reporting deadlines, temporary suspensions, appeals and public data.

Brad Hoflander, representing POST’s Professional Conduct Northern Bureau, told attendees that "POCAD itself does not have the authority to decertify an officer." He explained that law-enforcement consultants in POST’s Professional Conduct bureaus review investigations and make recommendations; the POST commission has the final authority to revoke a certificate.

Why it matters: Decertification removes an officer’s state certificate to serve as a peace officer in California, a step that is legally separate from an employer’s disciplinary or arbitration decisions. POST staff emphasized that actions taken by an employer — including reinstatement through arbitration — do not automatically prevent POST from pursuing certification action.

Most common allegations and caseload timing

Jim Sasso of POST’s Central Bureau said the agency’s leading grounds for certification actions are crimes that violate the law and dishonesty. He said POST’s process differs from employer discipline: "Post has 3 years from the date of the allegation to complete its case, but post doesn't take that long," and that the agency’s current average review time is about four to…