California is home to more than three million legal permanent residents with green cards, a group that has historically been unable to become peace officers due to existing laws that require this position to be a citizen of the United States or be a permanent resident who is eligible for and has applied for citizenship. This creates barriers for our colleagues like Mexican-born Martin Lopez Sandoval, a UCSF dispatcher who came to the U.S. at age three and has dreamed of becoming a law enforcement officer since middle school. Creating a higher standard than required for other state-regulated positions, the exclusionary law impedes our efforts to increase staff diversity to match the populations we serve and advance community policing, where officers create stronger bonds with the citizens living and working in the area.
“It’s challenging to recruit officers,” says Police Chief Mike Denson. “We have a lot of diversity within the department. When we decided to focus internally, there were four great candidates. Three have moved up into various advanced roles, but one of our dispatchers got held up in the process because of this law.” Chief Denson talked with his police chief colleagues across the University of California system, who elevated the issue to State Senator Nancy Skinner. Skinner agreed that the law needed to change and authored California state bill SB960, pending legislation that would expand peace officer eligibility to those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. Martin (pronounced Mar-teen), who moved up from a security position at UC Hastings in 2021 to become a UCSF dispatcher this year, is now breaking ground in his endeavor to become a law enforcement officer. He talked with us about why it matters.
Why is the new pending legislation to open career opportunities for legal residents with green cards important for your community?
It's very important to have a more diverse police officer background. The more cultures and backgrounds and ideas and belief systems, the easier it is to go out and truly make a difference when patrolling the streets. It also helps with engagement. It helps younger kids see people that look like and speak like them, with similar backgrounds. The most important thing you can do is make sure your department matches your city. As a young Hispanic man, I understand the influences in my community. I could inspire my younger brother and others in my culture, especially other green card holders who can know this is a future option for them.
What makes you proud to work at UCSF?
Walking across campus, people smile at you and ask you how your day is going. I also appreciate the diversity — no two people are alike. You always feel like you can come to work, learn something new and experience a different culture. I feel welcome.
