Local Politics · Fresno, CA
The Fresno City Council voted 5-1 to establish a $1 million legal defense fund for city residents facing deportation who have no criminal convictions. Sponsored by Councilmember Miguel Arias, the fund aims to provide legal representation amid increased immigration enforcement in the Central Valley. The council also approved a pilot program creating a designated vendor zone in the Tower District and allocated funds for senior housing and violence prevention programs.
Public Safety · Fresno, CA
The Fresno Police Department opened an Internal Affairs investigation Sept. 8 into an unnamed officer accused of abusing Flock Safety camera data and misusing the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) database for purposes unrelated to criminal investigations. The allegations appeared in the Office of Independent Review's first report in 14 months, released Wednesday Oct. 21. Police said enhanced audit features detected apparent Flock misuse on Aug. 25, and the officer was also accused of failing to activate a body-worn camera during a traffic stop. The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation continues.
