California
peace officers now stand at the intersection of two bodies of law that pull in
opposite directions. State law shields their right to use cannabis when they
are not on duty, while federal law forbids anyone who uses cannabis
Latest from California Public Safety Labor Blog
Appellate Court Affirms Broad Make Whole Remedy for Violation of Duty to Engage in Effects Bargaining Over Pension Reciprocity
On July 30, 2026, the Court of Appeal for the Second Appellate District, Division Seven, issued an unpublished decision in City of Los Angeles v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Nos. B336981 and B340065. The court
A Narrow Reading with Wide Consequences: The California Supreme Court Limits Leave Cashout Credit Under PEPRA
When the Verdict Second Guesses the Officer: Appellate Reversal Affirms Officers’ Right to Defend Themselves
Every officer who has ever cleared a doorway
understands the arithmetic of a fraction of a second. The decision to use force
is made in the moment, on the information then available, against a threat that
does not pause to
Supreme Court Strikes Down Hawaii’s “Vampire Rule” in Major Victory for the Second Amendment
Today the Supreme Court vindicated the Second Amendment in Wolford v. Lopez, striking down Hawaii’s so-called “Vampire Rule” in a 6-3 decision authored by Justice Alito and joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Thomas, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett.
SB 747 Risks ‘Watered Down’ Qualified Immunity for CA Officers
During the Assembly Judiciary Committee hearing held on June 9, 2026, David E. Mastagni appeared on behalf of the Peace Officers Research Association of California with Jonathan Feldman on behalf of the California Police Chiefs Association to address Senate Bill
DOL Issues New Opinion Letters: Major Wins for Employees on Off-the-Clock FLSA Claims
On May 28, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division issued a significant opinion letter, FLSA2026-8, that delivers clear, practical guidance on one of the most frequent sources of wage-and-hour disputes: off-the-clock work performed before and
Third Circuit Limits FLSA “Gap Time” Claims for Straight Time Pay
Public safety unions and their members have long relied on the Fair Labor Standards Act to recover unpaid straight-time wages, often called “gap time”, in weeks when officers or firefighters work overtime. Last week’s Third Circuit decision in Secretary of
NY Holds Law Enforcement Agencies Must Meet and Confer Over Advance Notice and Opportunity to Be Heard Before Releasing Personnel Records
In a decision carrying substantial weight for California public safety employers, the New York Public Employment Relations Board has ruled that municipalities violated their duty to bargain when they refused to negotiate procedures providing officers with advance notice of records