Plan to Arm EDD Officials Is Shot Down
The Senate on Thursday refused to pass a bill by Sen. Ed Davis (R-Valencia), a former Los Angeles police chief, that would allow investigators of the Employment Development Department to arm themselves.
“These people don’t need firearms,” argued Sen. Milton Marks (D-San Francisco) of the 86 agents whose duties include investigating suspected fraud in the payment of payroll taxes, such as unemployment and disability insurance premiums.
Sen. Bill Greene (D-Los Angeles) challenged Davis to cite even one instance when an investigator encountered a dangerous or life-threatening situation in the course of his or her work.
Explains Reasoning
Davis conceded that he knows of no high-risk incidents but suggested that to defeat the legislation would “handcuff the department in handling all the complicated situations they get into.”
The bill, which would also extend to the investigators the special retirement and disability benefits now granted to peace officers, failed on a 23-12 vote, four short of the 27 needed for passage.
Davis received permission to have the measure reconsidered later. He said he will strike provisions authorizing the arming of the investigators.
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