Board renews military‑equipment ordinances after annual review and public comment

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted unanimously to renew ordinances that authorize the county’s law‑enforcement agencies to own, acquire and use certain items defined as "military equipment" under state law and local ordinance after the agencies completed their annual reports and held public engagement sessions.

Deputy Chief Shelley Crosby of the Sheriff’s Department presented the county’s 2024 military‑equipment funding, acquisition and use reports for the Sheriff’s Department, the District Attorney’s Office and the Probation Department. Crosby said the agencies posted reports in April covering equipment use and fiscal impacts for the 2024 calendar year and that the county held community engagement meetings as required by state law. "These documents were uploaded, and they're publicly available on all of the respective law enforcement agencies' websites," Crosby said.

The reports list inventory items and authorized uses that the agencies described as subject to the statute; Crosby described examples as including certain drones, armored personnel carriers, vehicles with breaching apparatuses, special‑purpose firearms and specialty impact munitions such as 40‑millimeter launchers and less‑lethal munitions.

Under the legal framework the county cited, the board must determine each year whether listed equipment complies with the governing code and may disapprove renewal or require policy modifications if an item appears noncompliant. The board found the agencies' policies to be compliant and that prior uses complied with the policies in effect when used. The board also recorded that it had reviewed the fiscal impacts and public‑input processes described in the reports.

A member of the public, who identified himself as a veteran and as Carlo in testimony, criticized the county's child welfare system and tied his comments to law enforcement practices; Crosby and other staff said public comment is part of the required process. After public comment, Vice Chair Baca moved to renew the previously adopted ordinances, Supervisor Hagman seconded, and the board approved the renewal unanimously.

The county cited Government Code guidance in the presentation and said the annual reports cover acquisition, use, training, inventory, fiscal effect and public‑engagement steps. Crosby said the agencies posted their 2024 reports in early April and held the required public community meetings within 30 days of posting.

The sheriff’s office presentation emphasized that the state statute defines "military equipment" and that not every item used by the U.S. military is captured by the statute’s definition. The board did not disapprove or order modifications to any listed equipment at the May 6 meeting.

The vote renews the local authorizations for the equipment types enumerated in the annual reports and continues the county’s public reporting and community‑engagement schedule under the statute.

The renewal was approved by roll call in open session; no individual supervisor recorded a dissent.