California Assembly Bill 481
Military Equipment Use Policy
City Council Regular Meeting
February 10, 2025
PUBLIC HEARING
Summary
These are the broad topics this business meeting will cover.
Tonight, the Police Department is requesting that the City Council hold a public hearing to consider an Ordinance amending Chapter 9.20, titled Military Equipment Use Policy", by incorporating funding, acquisition, and use of new military equipment for the Lathrop Police Department.
Additionally, staff requests that the City Council adopt a Resolution accepting the Annual Military Equipment Report, summarizing the equipment use and funding from the last approval, January 2024 to date.
What's Next
Background
These are the broad topics this business meeting will cover.
On September 30, 2021, Governor Newsom signed seven major peace officer reform bills into law, including Assembly Bill 481 (AB 481).
AB 481 addresses the funding, acquisition and use of items lawmakers deem to be considered military equipment.
AB 481, codified in Government Code Sections 7070-7075, requires local Police Departments to implement a new military equipment use policy via ordinance, prior to taking certain actions relating to the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment.
Timeline
What's Next
Background: Prior Ordinances
These are the broad topics this business meeting will cover.
June 13, 2022 - the City Council adopted Ordinance 22-436, amending Title 9 “Public Peace and Welfare” of the Lathrop Municipal Code (LMC) by adding Chapter 9.20 titled “Military Equipment Use Policy” to establish a policy for the proper use, funding and acquisition of military style equipment as set forth by AB 481.
Military Equipment Use Policy No. 706 authorized the new Lathrop Police Department to fund, acquire, and use thirty-five 5.56mm semiautomatic rifles and ammunition, and eight 40mm launchers and rounds.
Timeline
What's Next
Background: Prior Ordinances
These are the broad topics this business meeting will cover.
December 12, 2022 - the City Council adopted Ordinance 22-441, amending Chapter 9.20, by adding Section 9.20.050 titled “Active Policies” to incorporate new Lathrop Police Department Policy No. 606, regulating “Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Operations”, and formally codifying previously approved Military equipment Use Policy No. 706, in compliance with AB 481.
Military Equipment Use Policy No. 606 authorized the Police Department to fund, acquire, and use four UAS operations, more commonly known as drones.
Timeline
What's Next
Background: Prior Ordinances
These are the broad topics this business meeting will cover.
January 8, 2024 - the City Council adopted Ordinance 24-453, amending Chapter 9.20 titled “Military Equipment Use Policy”, amending Section
9.20.050 titled “Active Policies” to update the existing Military Equipment List for Military Equipment Use Policy No. 706.
This ordinance added the funding, acquisition and use of eleven 5.56mm semiautomatic rifles and ammunition, eight Remington 870 less lethal launchers and drag stabilized 12-gauge bean bag rounds, 50 sets of five units of super-sock bean bags ammunition, and 3,000 5.56mm and 9mm specialty impact munitions.
Timeline
What's Next
Obtain approval by the
applicable governing body,
by adoption of a military
equipment use policy prior
to taking certain actions
relating to the funding,
acquisition, or use of
military equipment, as
defined.
Publish the draft
military equipment use
policy to the Police
Department’s website
30 days ahead of a
public hearing to
approve the policy.
Publish an annual
report by the law
enforcement agency
to include each type
of military equipment
approved by the
governing body.
Requirements of AB 481
Annual review of the military
equipment use ordinance by the
governing body, and option to
either disapprove a renewal of a
type of military equipment or
amend the military equipment
use policy if it determines that
the military equipment does not
comply with standards for
approval.
Hold at least one well
publicized and conveniently
located community
engagement meeting within
30 days of submitting and
publicly releasing the annual
military equipment report.
Requirements of AB 481
Public Notice
These are the broad topics this business meeting will cover.
On January 9, 2025, the City published the revised Military Equipment List for Military Equipment Use Policy No. 706 and the Annual Military Equipment Report on the dedicated Police Department AB 481 web page.
The Public Hearing Notice for tonight’s meeting was also published with the Manteca Bulletin on January 10, 2025. Timeline
What's Next
5.56mm Semiautomatic Rifles and Ammunition
Ten additional Daniel Defense rifles and ammunition. Estimated cost of $34,000. 01 New Equipment
Proposed for
Policy No. 706
Military Equipment Use
40mm Launchers
Twenty additional Def Tech 40mm Launchers. Estimated cost $24,060. 02 New Equipment
Proposed for
Policy No. 706
Military Equipment Use
03 Frangible Impact Rounds
Ninety-six CTS 40mm Frangible Impact Rounds. Estimated cost $10,129.
Tactical Flash Bangs
Twenty-four CTS 7290M Tactical Flash Bangs. Estimated cost $1,483. 04 New Equipment
Proposed for
Policy No. 706
Military Equipment Use
Command and Control Vehicles
SWAT Quick Response Vehicle (QRV). Estimated cost $66,547. 05 New Equipment
Proposed for
Policy No. 706
Military Equipment Use
Command and Control Vehicles
One Mobile Command Post and one Crime Scene Investigation vehicle. These would be sourced through the Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO) program. This is a military surplus program that allows law enforcement agencies to source specified equipment for free.
05 New Equipment
Proposed for
Policy No. 706
Military Equipment Use
Command and Control Vehicles
One Lenco BearCat G3 or similar armored rescue vehicle. Estimated cost $369,045. This cost will be offset by grant funding and use of LESO program. 05 New Equipment
Proposed for
Policy No. 706
Military Equipment Use
An armored rescue vehicle is capable of responding to emergencies in rough rural terrain or natural disaster scenarios that may restrict standard on-road vehicles with its upgraded heavy-duty suspension, increased ground clearance, off-road wheels, and run-flat tires. The BearCat G3 accommodates 10–12 fully equipped personnel while providing manueverable ballistic protection.
Sniper Rifle with Suppressor
One LWRC REPR MKII sniper rifle. Estimated cost $5,899. 06 New Equipment
Proposed for
Policy No. 706
Military Equipment Use
Submachine Guns with Suppressors
Six Proforce MPX submachine guns wth supppressors. Estimated cost $12,049. 07 New Equipment
Proposed for
Policy No. 706
Military Equipment Use
• Hold a Public Hearing to hear testimony regarding the proposed Ordinance and Annual Report
• Introduce and conduct the first reading of the proposed Ordinance amending Chapter
9.20, of Title 9, by amending Section 9.20.050 titled “Active Policies” to update existing Military Eqiupment Use Policy No. 706, by incoporating funding, acquisition, and use of new military equipment for the Lathrop Police Department, in complince with Government Code Sections 7070-7075, pursuant to Assembly Bill 481.
Council Requested Actions
• Adopt a Resolution accepting the 2024 Annual Military Equipment Report summarizing the equipment use and funding from the previous approval, January 2024 to date.
Lathrop Police
Department
Military Equipment Use