Police Department AB 481 Military Equipment
1 City Council Meeting
June 4, 2024
John Cregan, Chief of Police Tommy Isachsen, Lieutenant
AB 481
September 30, 2021- Assembly Bill 481 signed into law.
Codified by Government Code sections § 7070-7075
481: Military Equipment Funding, Acquisition and Use
Help with transparency, accountability, oversight of acquisition and use of equipment Safeguards to protect public welfare, safety, civil rights and liberties 2 AB 481 Requirements
Post a draft policy and equipment inventory online 30 days prior to public meeting Seek Government body approval of a Policy and Ordinance as well as prepare an Annual report which includes:
How the equipment is used
Maintenance use and costs
Quantity possessed
Internal Audits
Community input and questions on use and complaints
Requires council approval for the acquisition of funds associated with military equipment 3 Categories of Equipment
AB 481 has 15 categories of equipment that fall under the law The Santa Rosa Police Department has equipment that qualifies for 8 of those categories 4 SRPD Categories of Equipment
Projectile Launchers
“Flashbang” grenades, “tear gas” and “pepper balls” (Chemical Agents/Diversionary Devices) Command and Control Vehicles
Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD)
Specialized Firearms and Ammunition of less than .50 caliber Armored Personnel Carriers (Armored Rescue Vehicles)
Battering Rams, Slugs, and Breaching Apparatuses that are Explosive in Nature Unmanned Aerial or Ground Vehicles
5 Projectile Launchers
Allows officers to use chemical agents or kinetic energy projectiles Officers can deploy these from a greater distance, which provides an alternative option for a higher-level use of force This category includes 40mm less-lethal launchers and sponge rounds 6 40MM Launcher
7 Chemical Munitions Diversionary Devices
Includes items such as Flashbangs and CS gas.
Flashbangs are a distraction device used by the SWAT team during high-risk situations SWAT team uses chemical agents to help extract a subject from a fixed location, deny an area to a suspect, or safely detain a suspect who poses a risk of violence Mobile Field Force uses chemical agents in a riotous situation This category includes CS gas and flashbangs. SRPD has disposed of chemical agent munitions we no longer have a need for and continues to evaluate our munitions. 8 9
CTS 9230 CTS 7290 CTS 9230 Deftech 1032 Deftech 56854
Command and Control Vehicles
Vehicles with radio communication and technology to facilitate the command and control of units in the field For special events, critical and non-critical incidents, and natural disasters Allows for mobile command and dispatching by being near the actual incident location, allowing for better decision-making This category includes a mobile command vehicle and Hostage Negotiations/Command and Control Vehicle 10 Mobile Command Vehicle
11 Mobile Hostage Negotiations, Command and Control
12 Long Range Acoustic Device
A communication system to relay critical information during situations such as:
Natural disasters, evacuations, protests, high-risk search or arrest warrants, hostage/barricade situations, search and rescues The warning tone on the SRPD LRAD has been disabled
13 LRAD 100X
14 Specialized Firearms and Ammunition
SRPD has specialized rifles and ammunition (includes 5.56mm and .308 caliber) used by the SWAT Team They allow for more precision and accuracy than handguns as well as provide longer distances This minimizes the risk to the public and officers instead of the use of a standard handgun SRPD has launching cartridges that allow the option for deploying chemical munitions 15 FN Rifle 5.56mm and SAKO Tikka .308 Rifle
16 Armored Rescue Vehicles
Used to provide ballistic protection to citizens and officers during rescues, critical incidents, or other hazardous situations Used as a rescue vehicle in the event a victim or an officer is in dire need of rescue These are reinforced civilian vehicles
17 Lenco Bearcat - SRPD
18 Lenco Bearcat - SCSO
19 Breaching Apparatuses
Breaching shotgun rounds are used in high-risk entries or barricade/hostage situations where entry needs to be made quickly The KBT breaching tool is a self-contained impact ram with powder-actuated cartridges that go directly into a door or entryway.
In less urgent or high-risk situations, officers have access to handheld battering rams 20 Royal Arms TESCR
21 Kinetic Breaching Technologies (KBT)
22 Unmanned Aerial or Ground Systems (Drones & Robots)
Allows officers to view areas from locations they would not normally be able to or would need to be in a heightened risk of danger to obtain the same information This allows for a better view and greater ability to gather more information Used for things such as searching for missing individuals, looking for suspects, documenting crime scenes SRPD would like to purchase four drones for interior buildings and small/tight area outdoor searches 23 24
Autel EVO II Robotex Avatar 2
The policy, inventory, and ordinance is available online at:
https://srcity.org/3217/Policies
Questions or concerns related to the policy can be sent to:
[email protected]
25 SRPD will continue to have access to the resources and items deemed military equipment that were available prior to AB 481 SRPD will be able to purchase additional drones to assist with searches of missing people and clearing buildings.
SRPD will track the usage of items and prepare an annual report detailing that usage and any future purchases These tools and items will continue to give SRPD options to help safely resolve violent and volatile incidents to maintain the safety of the community 26 If Approved
The Department will not have access to and will cease using any items listed in AB 481 SRPD will no longer have the tools to effectively respond and minimize risk to critical incidents SRPD will rely on outside agencies to help resolve certain critical incidents; although, there are legal barriers which might not allow this 27 Without Approval
Recommendation
It is recommended by the Police Department that the Council introduce an ordinance to (1) amend Title 2 of the Santa Rosa City Code by adding Chapter 2-38, Military Equipment Use Ordinance, and (2) approve Santa Rosa Police Department Policy 707 – Military Equipment. 28 Questions?
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