New Protections for Animal Control Officers

Sacramento, Calif.- Assemblywoman Beth Gaines (R-Roseville) announced that Governor Brown has signed her legislation (Assembly Bill 1511) to provide greater protections for animal control officers in California. 

AB 1511 will allow animal control officers, prior to being called out to an assignment, to request local and state summary criminal history information of the property they are being summoned to.

“I’m very proud and honored to help our animal control officers work in a safer environment that will keep lives safe and allow them to work in a more efficient manner,” said Gaines.

AB 1511 arose out of the tragic events that happened to Sacramento Animal Control Officer Roy Curtis Marcum, back in 2012.  Officer Marcum was called out to a supposedly vacant property to retrieve some animals that had been abandoned by the previous owner.  As Officer Marcum approached the house, he was tragically shot and killed by the previous owner, who was still residing in the property.  The previous owner was captured and subsequently imprisoned by law enforcement.

AB 1511 will now allow animal control officers, who do not carry firearms, to request criminal history information upon showing a compelling need to the Department of Justice and to local law enforcement.  This tool will help prioritize law enforcement resources to be made available for animal control officers to help keep them safe when they are called out to properties.

“AB 1511 will hopefully help prevent future tragedies like the one that took the life of my son,” said Charlotte Marcum-Rush, mother of Officer Marcum.  Ms. Marcum-Rush also helped craft this legislation. 

“I believe wholeheartedly that this legislation will make the job safer for animal control officers all around California.  They help protect the public from wild, sometimes dangerous, animals and now I hope that we can help protect them,” said Gaines.

Assemblywoman Beth Gaines represents the 6th Assembly District, which includes portions of Placer, El Dorado, and Sacramento counties.