Item 459/2025
Final
City of Garden Grove
INTER-DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM
To:
Lisa L. Kim From: Chief El-Farra
Dept:
City Manager Dept: Police
Date: 12/9/2025
Subject: Receive and file the Garden Grove Police Department’s Annual Military Equipment Use Report for the period from September 2024 through September 2025 pursuant to California Assembly Bill 481 (2021). (Action Item)
OBJECTIVE
For the City Council to receive the Garden Grove Police Department’s Annual Report on the Department’s use of Military Equipment pursuant to California Assembly Bill 481 (2021).
BACKGROUND
Assembly Bill (AB) 481, adopted by the State Legislature in 2021, requires the Garden Grove Police Department (“Department”) to seek City Council approval by ordinance for the funding, acquisition, and use of equipment defined by the law as “military equipment.” This legislation also requires law enforcement agencies to submit to the City Council an annual report summarizing the use of the equipment, the purpose for its use, any complaints or concerns received concerning the military equipment, the results of any internal audits or violations of the Department’s policy and any actions taken in response, the total annual costs for the equipment, the quantity possessed by the agency, and the intention to purchase additional equipment in the coming year. In addition, within 30 days of submitting and publicly releasing the annual report, a well -publicized and conveniently located community engagement meeting must be held to allow for public comments.
This report meets the requirements of AB 481 and precedes the Department’s request that the City Council renew the Department’s Military Equipment Policy, which will be presented at a future meeting
DISCUSSION
Effective January 1, 2022, AB 481 added Chapter 12.8 (commencing with Section 7070) to Division 7 of Titl e 1 of the Government Code. These provisions required law enforcement agencies to obtain the approval of their respective governing bodies, by adoption of a military equipment use policy (via ordinance), prior to use of any equipment defined by the Government Code as “military equipment.” Upon approval of an agency’s military equipment Item 459/2025
use policy, the agency must, thereafter, prepare an annual military equipment use report, which must be published to the City’s website, as well as hold at least one well-publicized and conveniently located community engagement meeting at which the general public may discuss and ask questions regarding the annual military equipment use report and the law enforcement agency’s funding, acquisition, and use of military equipment.
Pursuant to Government Code section 7072, the Department has prepared an annual report which reflects the following for the preceding calendar year:
1. A summary of how military equipment was used and the purpose of its use;
2. A summary of any complaints or concerned received concerning the military equipment;
3. The results of any internal audits, any information about violations of the military equipment use policy, and any actions taken in response;
4. The total annual cost for each type of military equipment, including acquisition, personnel, training, transportation, maintenance, storage, upgrade, and other ongoing costs, and from what source funds will be provided for the military equipment in the calendar year following submission of the annual report;
5. The quantity possessed for each type of military equipment; and
6. If the law enforcement agency intends to acquire additional military equipment in the next year, the quantity sought for each type of military equipment.
A copy of the Garden Grove Police Depart ment’s Annual Military Equipment Use Report for the period from September 2024 through September 2025 is attached hereto as Attachment 1 (hereinafter the “Annual Report). The Annual Report will be posted on the City’s website, and in accordance with the provisions of AB 481, the Department will publicize and conduct a community engagement meeting regarding the Department’s use of “military equipment” at a date, time, and place to be published as appropriate.
At a future City Council meeting, the Department will seek Council’s approval to renew GGPD Policy 706 [Military Equipment], via ordinance.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact associated with the City Council receiving the Garden Grove Police Department’s Annual Report on the Department’s use of military equipment pursuant to California Assembly Bill 481. There may be minimal costs related to posting the Annual Report on the Department’s website and publicizing and conducting the required commu nity engagement meeting. All costs will be absorbed within the Police Department’s annual operating budget.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council:
Item 459/2025
Receive and file the Annual Military Equipment Use Report for the period from September 2024 through September 2025 (Attachment 1);
Receive and file the proposed version of Garden Grove Police Department Policy 706 (Attachment 2) which will be formally submitted to the City Council for approval at a future meeting;
To direct the Police Department to post the Annual Report (Attachment 1) and proposed version of Policy 706 (Attachment 2) on the Department’s website; To direct the Police Department to hold a conveniently located and well - publicized community engagement meeting giving the public the opportunity to ask questions about and discuss the Annual Report and proposed policy; and
To direct staff to set the matter for a public hearing regarding an ordinance to approve Garden Grove Police Department Policy 706 [Military Equipment] which is at least 30 days from today’s date.
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. 2024-2025 Annual Military Equipment Use Report
2. Proposed Garden Grove Police Department Policy 706 [Military Equipment]