Republican State Assemblyman Juan Alanis praised the defeat of a bill that would have made it virtually impossible for law enforcement officers to use canine assets in the process of an arrest or to subdue a suspect.

Alanis, a former sheriff’s deputy turned lawmaker, fought against AB 742, saying it would lead to more officer-involved shootings and deaths. The bill was authored by Assemblyman Corey Jackson, a Southern California Democrat but he pulled it for this year after it was clear that it was well short of the votes required to pass.

“This bill was egregiously unsafe and would have taken one of the most effective tools away from law enforcement,” said Alanis. “I am glad to see it defeated today.”

Law enforcement agencies, unions, cities, and counties all across California were strongly opposed to AB 742. 

Alanis worked hard to defeat the bill since it passed the Committee on Public Safety earlier this year.

“Police canines are a vital tool in keeping our communities and public safe. If the Legislature wants to pass a bill condemning past racist actions I would support that bill. I support holding bad actors accountable everywhere. However, police canines are highly trained assets and their handlers among the most professional and highly trained officers across our state.”