SACRAMENTO – Today, Assemblymember Juan Alanis announced that his bill, AB 2004, passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee on a 8-0 unanimous bipartisan vote. The bill ensures that correctional officers in Fresno and San Joaquin Counties are granted peace officer designation consistent with 40 other counties across California, aligning state law with the realities of the job.
“Correctional officers perform some of the most demanding and hazardous work in law enforcement, yet in some counties they are not afforded the same recognition as their peers doing identical work,” said Assemblymember Alanis. “AB 2004 corrects that inconsistency and ensures these officers are treated fairly under the law.”
Correctional officers are responsible for maintaining safety and order inside county jails, supervising inmates, responding to violent incidents, and managing emergencies in confined, high-risk environments. Despite performing the same duties as officers in other counties, those in Fresno and San Joaquin currently lack the same statutory designation and recognition.
The bill also underscores the real-world consequences of that disparity.
In 2016, Fresno County Correctional Officer Toamalama Scanlan was shot while responding to an active shooter inside the Fresno County Jail lobby and suffered catastrophic injuries. After five years of hospitalization and rehabilitation, he passed away in 2021 as a result of those injuries. However, due to the lack of peace officer status, Officer Scanlan’s name is absent from the California Peace Officers’ Memorial.
“Officer Scanlan’s courage represents the very best of public service,” Alanis said. “He answered the call without hesitation, and his sacrifice should be recognized in the same manner as any other peace officer in California. This bill helps ensure more correctional officers receive the support and recognition they deserve.”
AB 2004 will next go to the Assembly Floor for a full house vote.
