Opinion ID: 2584939
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Examination of Peace Officer Personnel Files

Text: Defendant next claims the trial court erred in denying him discovery of the confidential peace officer personnel files of Shasta County Deputies Buck Dikes and John Carelli. The declaration in support of the motion, which also sought discovery of Deputy Perrigo's confidential personnel files, alleged, on information and belief, that complaints of aggressive behavior, acts of violence and/or attempted violence, acts of excessive force and/or attempted excessive force had been lodged against the officers. A hearing was conducted on the motion. County counsel appeared and opposed it, arguing the moving papers and declarations in support of the motion were inadequate, and that Deputies Dikes and Carelli were not even present when defendant was arrested for this offense. She further represented to the court that she had reviewed the files of all three officers and that there is nothing in these files that even pertain to anything that [defendant and codefendant Estrada] appear to be looking for. The trial court denied discovery of the confidential personnel files of Deputies Dikes and Carelli, observing that the moving papers do not establish a basis on which the records of either Dikes or Carelli would be appropriately discoverable under the circumstances of this case. There is no basis in the moving papers on which a conclusion can be reached that their past conduct would in any way have anything to do with matters or material that might in any way be helpful to the defense in the case. The trial court agreed to conduct an in camera review of Deputy Perrigo's confidential personnel file, going back five years. (See City of Los Angeles v. Superior Court (2002) 29 Cal.4th 1, 12 [124 Cal.Rptr.2d 202, 52 P.3d 129] [five-year limitation on such discovery not violative of due process].) Following its review, the court announced that Deputy Perrigo's files likewise contained no evidence of any complaints. `A motion for discovery of peace officer personnel records is addressed solely to the sound discretion of the trial court. ( Pitchess v. Superior Court [(1974)] 11 Cal.3d [531,] 535 [113 Cal.Rptr. 897, 522 P.2d 305].) A review of the lower court's ruling is subject to an abuse of discretion standard.' ( City of San Jose v. Superior Court (1998) 67 Cal.App.4th 1135, 1145 [79 Cal.Rptr.2d 624].) (9) We find no abuse of discretion on this record. `In criminal cases, the court retains wide discretion to protect against the disclosure of information which might unduly hamper the prosecution or violate some other legitimate governmental interest.' ( Pitchess v. Superior Court, supra, 11 Cal.3d at p. 538, quoting Joe Z. v. Superior Court (1970) 3 Cal.3d 797, 804 [91 Cal.Rptr. 594, 478 P.2d 26].) Nor could defendant demonstrate prejudice on a finding of error, as county counsel's representations at the hearing on the motion below, and the trial court's statements upon completion of its review of Deputy Perrigo's confidential personnel files, together make clear that no information of the nature being sought through the discovery motion was to be found in any of the three officers' personnel files. ( People v. Memro (1985) 38 Cal.3d 658, 684 [214 Cal.Rptr. 832, 700 P.2d 446] [prejudice required for relief on appeal].)