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Council renews military-equipment policy, reviews annual inventory under AB 481
Summary
The Santa Paula City Council reviewed the Police Department’s annual military-equipment inventory and voted to renew Ordinance No. 13-15 and the department’s military-equipment funding, acquisition and use policy required by Assembly Bill 481 (AB 481).
The City Council voted to renew the Police Department’s military-equipment funding, acquisition and use policy and Ordinance No. 13-15, following the department’s presentation of its annual inventory report required by Assembly Bill 481.
Staff presented the annual military-equipment report and a draft policy update, noting the statutory requirements in AB 481 and related government-code sections. The department said it holds equipment in several AB 481 categories (patrol rifles, a mobile command post vehicle, a 40mm launcher and related 40mm kinetic projectiles, less-lethal munitions and other listed items). The department reported it had previously held two armored vehicles (MRAPs), but released one to the Blythe Police Department through the federal Law Enforcement Support Office and now lists a single armored vehicle in its inventory.
The chief told council the department currently has two personnel trained and qualified to deploy the listed equipment and that, while some equipment is maintained for tactical response, the department is not operating a special-response team at full staffing. The mobile command post has been used as a patrol briefing facility while station renovation continues.
Under AB 481 the annual report must include summaries of equipment use, complaints, audit results, costs and quantities. The chief reviewed those categories and identified minor edits to the draft inventory (for example, adding a Defense Technologies 40mm short-range chemical agent item to the Category 12 listing and correcting the armored-vehicle quantity). Staff confirmed the ordinance renewal requires a public hearing and annual council review; the council took public comment and approved renewal.
The council voted, by voice, to approve renewal of the ordinance and the policy as presented. Staff said ongoing costs for required reporting and publication are expected but did not identify a separate capital expenditure tied to the renewal on this agenda.
