Claremont

CROSKEY, Acting P.J.

Claremont Police Officers Association (the association) appeals a judgment denying a petition for writ of mandate against the City of Claremont (the city) and its police chief, Roy Brown. The petition challenges the city's adoption of a policy requiring police officers to record information concerning the race and ethnicity of a person subjected to a vehicle stop if the stop does not result in an arrest or citation. The association contends the policy affects the "terms and conditions of employment" (Gov.Code, § 3505) [1] and does not involve "consideration of the merits, necessity, or organization of any service or activity provided by law or executive order" (§ 3504), so the city must meet and confer with the association before adopting the policy. We agree that the city was required to meet and confer, and therefore reverse the judgment with directions to grant the petition.

The city police department implemented a program in May 2000 to record the race of drivers and pedestrians stopped by police officers if the stop did not result in an arrest or citation. Police officers were required to inform the dispatcher by radio of the reason for the stop and the…