Assembly Bill 229 became law on January 1, 2022. The new law, which requires use of force training for private security guards and employees of alarm companies, was one of two dozen or so bills that Oakland Privacy supported in its journey through the Legislature in 2021. Like all laws, it has a story behind it.
On July 2, Mario Mathews, a 39 year old Latinx man who weighed all of 125 pounds, trespassed into the Sacramento Kings arena in the early hours of the morning. He mimicked shooting some baskets, and may have been experiencing a mental health issue, but carried no weapon or engaged in any dangerous behavior. Arena security guards detained him, handcuffed him, and then placed a knee on his neck George Floyd-style. The officer kept his knee on Mario’s neck for at least 4 full minutes. Matthews went unresponsive, was sent to the hospital and died.
