New Bill Would Allow Compensation for Victims of Police Violence

By Desert Star Staff

Criminal justice reform groups are rallying behind a new bill that would make it easier for people hurt in encounters with police to get support from the California Victim Compensation Board.

Right now, most claimsaside from domestic violence or sexual assault - require that the person be identified as a victim in a police report.

Michelle Monterrosa’s brother Sean died at the hands of Vallejo Police in 2020. The officer was fired but never charged.

Monterrosa said the bill would help families like hers cope.

“And unfortunately,” said Monterrosa, “because our loved ones were killed the way they were, we’re not considered victims; they are not considered as victims. So therefore, we’re continuing the cycles of trauma and harm. The whole household is also a victim, you know - we’re the ones who deal with the loss every day.”

The bill would exclude cases where the person inflicted “great bodily injury” in a law enforcement encounter before being killed.

Families or survivors could use evidence other than a police report to access the program, which assists with burial costs, medical bills, and counseling. The victim would be eligible regardless of whether the officer is arrested or convicted.

Cristine Soto DeBerry, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Prosecutors Alliance, oversaw a similar program in San Francisco and said the system needs to be more flexible and compassionate.

“We see families having to turn to GoFundMe pages and car washes to try and cover the cost of burying their loved one after an incident like this,” said Soto DeBerry.

“And that, to us, seems inhumane and unnecessary.”

The California District Attorneys Association opposed a similar bill in last year’s legislative session, arguing the law would allow compensation to perpetrators of crimes.

Soto DeBerry argued that the outreach is a win-win.

“Supporting families through this process is a smart public safety strategy,” said Soto DeBerry, “and one that strengthens legitimacy rather than undermining it.” Senate Bill 838 is currently in the Senate Rules Committee.

District Lead Security Officer named Riverside County Educator of the Year

By Desert Star Staff MORENO VALLEY

–Dwight Taylor served in multiple campus security roles in the Moreno Valley Unified School District. In 2017, he was named the MVUSD Classified Employee of the Year and was ultimately selected as the 2017 Riverside County Classified Employee of the Year.

Six years later, Dwight now serves as a District Lead Officer (Campus Security Officer II) and was recently selected as MVUSD’s 2023 Site Support Employee of the Year. On Wednesday, he was surprised that he is being recognized again at the county level as the 2023 Riverside County Site Support Employee of the Year.

“Thank you to everybody in this room, and for always helping me to be positive,” said Dwight Taylor to the gathered crowd of family, colleagues, and board members immediately after receiving the award.

“For all those, we serve in this district, we know what they face, and I try to be somebody who does something.”

Dwight Taylor - 2023 Riverside County Site Support Employee of the Year

In his position, Dwight Taylor supports the educational efforts of the students and staff by providing a safe and secure place for teachers to teach and for students to learn. Dwight’s personalized approach includes serving as a coach and a mentor who advocates, de-escalates, and collaborates while building his skills as an empathic listener, restorative justice supporter, and servant leader. He is also involved as a 2nd Vice President for CSEA Chapter 410 in MVUSD and serves as a Freedom Writer teacher. The Riverside County Educators of the Year are selected from the more than 36,000 educational employees. The rigorous application process starts with nominations by teachers, classified employees, and school district administrators throughout the county. Applications are then submitted to the Riverside County Office of Education, where an outside selection committee selects the honorees before the county superintendent’s announcement.

Along with the 2023 Riverside County Teachers of the Year named previously, all 2023 Riverside County Educators of the Year will be honored at the Celebrating Educators Luncheon, set for Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at the Riverside Convention Center.

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