San Francisco could soon start treating opioid deaths as homicides

SAN FRANCISCO (KFSN) -- Governor Newsom and San Francisco leaders announced a new task force aimed at targeting those who sell drugs.

On Friday, the governor's office announced a joint law enforcement task force that will treat overdoses as homicides.

Bay Area leaders plan on using a standard procedure to document deaths, gather evidence, and identify dealers, suppliers, and traffickers of fentanyl.

The task force follows similar actions from around the state.

"There have been multiple convictions for second-degree murder under this theory in California. starting in Placer County, we had a conviction, similar by jury trial even in Riverside County these prosecutions are happening in San Diego county," said Brooke Jenkins, San Francisco District Attorney.

In October of last year in Fresno County, District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp filed a murder charge against 21-year-old Cassidy Gonzalez for the fentanyl-related overdose death of Jade Alexandra Dreith.

"The people that we can file fentanyl murder cases are cases that we can connect to conscious disregard to human life."

Smittcamp added she's met with the San Francisco mayor, DA, and police chief about the crisis and hopes this will be only the first step in more efforts to crack down on fentanyl.

"I hope that this will be a trend that is continuing to make fentanyl dealers and traffickers more accountable for their actions because hundreds of people are dying every day in the United States of America while everybody is sitting on their hands," said Smittcamp.

Gonzales' case is expected to begin on November 30th.

Meanwhile, the Bay area task force is set to be fully operational by next year.

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