Sandy Sanchez (right) hugs family outside of federal court in San Jose, Calif., July 2, 2019, after the San Jose police were found liable of using excessive force in the 2016 fatal shooting of her son Anthony Nunez. Photo by Karl Mondon, Bay Area News Group

Now that California has passed new laws meant to reduce police shootings, a key question is how much difference they’ll make in the ways officers respond to calls to help people in mental crisis. We discuss that question with Gov. Gavin Newsom, and examine two shootings from the past—one that the new law would likely prohibit, and another that it seems less likely to change.

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Laurel covers California politics for CalMatters, with a focus on power and personalities in the state Capitol. She's been included in the Washington Post’s list of outstanding state politics reporters...