New law will require police to lock away guns in parked cars

From March to May of 2016, two Salinas Police Officers and the former chief had guns and other property stolen from their vehicles. A tough experience for former top cop Kelly McMillin. Here’s what he said last March.

“Just being a victim like anybody, you just appreciate the fact of the violation that you feel personally when someone has been in your space like that,” said McMillin.

But Salinas Police are not alone. In the last several years, hundreds of guns have been stolen from police vehicles in California and beyond. A new law takes effect January 1 st to combat that in 2017.

“The new law requires police officers to lock up and secure their firearm when it’s left in a vehicle or unintended,” said Salinas Police Commander Sheldon Bryan.

Law enforcement who do not comply face a $1000 fine.

“It brings us in line with the rest of the community and civilians,” said Bryan. “I mean we’re required now to lock up our firearms just like any other civilian in the community.”

But the law does not apply to situations where immediate action and aid are required by officers.

People we spoke to said the new law makes them feel more secure. They said having a gun in an unlocked car, whether you are a police officer or not, can open the door for unpredictable behavior.

“You wouldn’t want someone like a burglar that wants to actually kill somebody to go into the car and take a gun,” said April Cabrera of Salians. “You don’t know what they’re going to do with it.”

“I think it’s something that needed to be done and has needed to be done,” said Salinas resident Greg Atkinson.

Commander Bryan told KION besides Senate Bill 869, they have a policy in place to secure firearms when they are unattended.

ORIGINAL STORY: On January 1, 2017, no fewer than 898 new laws will take effect in California, including one that will require everyone–including police–to lock up all firearms left in parked cars.

Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 869 into law in September, in response to numerous cases where law enforcement officers’ gun were stolen.

In 2016, three Salinas police officers, including the police chief, had weapons stolen from their cars.

KION’s Maya Holmes spoke today with police and local residents about the new regulations. Look for her story tonight at 5 p.m. on KION 5/46.