City Council reviews military equipment usage and budget for law enforcement

San Rafael's Police Advisory & Accountability Committee recently reviewed the annual military equipment report, highlighting the usage and oversight of various law enforcement tools. The report, presented to the city council, detailed the types of military equipment in use, complaints received, and the results of internal audits.

Among the 15 categories of military equipment, the San Rafael Police Department currently utilizes unmanned ground vehicles (robots), an armored personnel carrier, battering rams, specialized firearms, noise flash diversionary devices (flash bangs), and less-than-lethal kinetic energy weapons. The report emphasized transparency, noting that all equipment is funded primarily through the general fund, with some items supported by state grants.

The committee discussed the operational history of the equipment, including the acquisition dates and funding sources. For instance, the armored personnel carrier, shared with the Novato Police Department, was acquired in 2019, largely funded by a state homeland security grant. Other equipment, such as patrol rifles and diversionary devices, have been in use since the early 2000s.

The report also provided a summary of equipment usage over the past year. Notably, while the department does not own its own drones, it utilized drones from the Marin County Sheriff's Office for various incidents, including searches for armed suspects and missing persons. However, there were instances where drones were requested but unavailable.

The committee's discussions underscored the importance of accountability and community safety, as they reviewed how military equipment is deployed in critical situations. The meeting concluded with a commitment to ongoing transparency and responsible management of law enforcement resources, ensuring that the community remains informed about the tools used to maintain public safety.