Public officers: custodial officers.

Existing law defines who is a peace officer and specifies the powers of peace officers. Existing law specifies that a custodial officer is a public officer, not a peace officer, employed by a law enforcement agency of a city or county who has the authority and responsibility for maintaining custody of prisoners and performs tasks related to the operation of a local detention facility used for the detention of persons usually pending arraignment or upon court order, as specified. Existing law provides that a custodial officer does not have the right to carry or possess firearms in the performance of his or her prescribed duties. Existing law also describes the powers and duties of custodial officers. This bill would limit the scope of the prohibition against carrying or possessing firearms by authorizing a custodial officer to use a firearm that is a less lethal weapon, as defined, in the performance of his or her official duties, at the discretion of the employing sheriff or chief of police, as applicable, or his or her designee. The bill would require that a custodial officer who uses a less lethal weapon be trained in its use and comply with the policy on the use of less lethal weapons as set forth by the sheriff. The bill would also make technical, nonsubstantive changes to the provisions relating to custodial officers.