| WEBINAR: How agencies operationalize real-time policing<\/a><\/p>\n Community members who spoke during Thursday\u2019s council meeting said they were concerned the change makes it easier for officers to convince residents to waive their rights against unwarranted searches. City officials called it a \u201ccommon sense\u201d move that is intended to crack down on \u201cslumlords\u201d who repeatedly violate housing standards and have been able to use the city\u2019s own laws to avoid inspections and penalties.<\/p>\n District 3 Councilmember Miguel Arias said during the meeting that the change will allow code enforcement officers, who respond to community complaints about substandard properties, to inspect buildings from the outside and determine next steps.<\/p>\n \u201cThe vast majority of these buildings are within neighborhoods where kids play,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have an obligation to be able to conduct an inspection.\u201d<\/p>\n The council\u2019s decision stems from a Fresno County judge\u2019s ruling<\/a> in January that a code enforcement official inspecting a rental property violated the city\u2019s own Municipal Code when he entered the property without consent or a warrant. Fresno residents had complained about the property and the city found serious violations, including evidence of an insect infestation. But the judge ordered the city to abandon fines against the owners for problems for uncorrected violations.<\/p>\n Janz said the judge\u2019s ruling interpreted the city\u2019s Municipal Code as requiring officers to have a warrant even to conduct visual inspections of property. He called it a \u201cloophole\u201d that landlords have been able to take advantage of.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Municipal Code has created a standard that is in excess of what the Fourth Amendment would require,\u201d Janz said during the meeting.<\/p>\n He said he wants residents to \u201crest assured\u201d because code enforcement officers \u201cunderstand that they need to have either consent or a warrant to enter private residences.\u201d He said he\u2019s also spoken to Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto about the new law.<\/p>\n \u201cHer officers will continue to follow the law as it applies to the Fourth Amendment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n How should cities balance enforcing housing standards with protecting residents\u2019 Fourth Amendment rights?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n \n Video shows the Milwaukee officer ordering the man to exit the truck; he refused and drove away at a high rate of speed as the officer attempted to remove him\n <\/p>\n March 30, 2026 12:23 PM<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00b7\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n \n Video from Hartford PD shows Steven Jones advancing toward several officers with a knife; now-former officer Joseph Mangano fired multiple shots, fatally wounding Jones\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n \n Costilla County Sheriff Danny Sanchez resigned after he and a deputy faced charges of mishandling himan remains; other deputies, including his son, were charged in a use of force incident\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n \n Deputy Levi Vargas died after suffering a medical emergency during the Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup, a 120-mile law enforcement relay race\n <\/p>\n \u00a92026 The Fresno Bee. Visit fresnobee.com<\/a>. Distributed by Tr<\/a>Erik Galicia![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774967544_525_.png\")
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