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County receives AB 481 military-equipment reports; board delays sheriff's authority to buy future gear
Summary
The Board received annual AB 481 reports from Regional Parks, the District Attorney, Probation and the Sheriff's Office. The board accepted the reports and approved Probation's drone policy but voted to postpone authorizing future purchases by the Sheriff until after budget deliberations.
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors on June 3 received annual military-equipment reports from county agencies as required by Assembly Bill 481 and voted to delay authorization for the Sheriff's future equipment purchases until after budget deliberations.
The reports covered inventories, uses and training for items ranging from drones to armored vehicles. Eric Jones, deputy county executive, introduced the four related agenda items, noting the reports covered the 2024'125 fiscal year and followed the public meetings required by the law.
Regional Parks director Liz Bellas told the board the department's inventory includes less-lethal shotguns and an unmanned aircraft system (drone). Bellas said Regional Parks is not planning new equipment purchases and that the drone is used primarily for water-rescue searches and other park operations.
Assistant Chief Investigator Scott Maldonado reported for the District Attorney's Office that the bureau holds six Remington 870 12-gauge less-lethal launchers. Maldonado said those launchers were not deployed in the line of duty during the reporting period and that training was held for qualified personnel. "The district attorney does not intend to acquire any military equipment in the next year," Maldonado said.
Probation's interim chief probation officer Julie Wherry asked for board approval of a military-equipment policy allowing the future purchase and use of drones to support outreach to unhoused people under supervision. "Drones would be used to help locate encampments not visible from public roads, increase operational efficiency and oversight of community contact efforts," Wherry said, describing the tool as a supplement to existing mobile outreach vans and other field vehicles.
Sheriff's Tactical Commander Lt. James Petrinovich presented the Sheriff's inventory: 56 drones, nine robots, armored Bearcat vehicles, a specialized rook vehicle, long-range acoustic devices and a wide array of less-lethal munitions. He said drones are commercially available models and that drones and robots are deployed defensively to reduce officer risk. The department reported two civil claims during the year for property damage linked to equipment deployment.
Public commenter Mr. Bliss criticized the Sheriff's Office and urged the board to halt future purchases until the department could demonstrate need and compliance with AB 481.
After discussion, the board accepted the annual reports from Regional Parks and the District Attorney, approved Probation's drone policy and unanimously agreed to receive and file the Sheriff's report but postponed authorization for the Sheriff's future acquisition of military equipment until after the board completes budget deliberations. The motion to delay was moved by Chair Serna and seconded by Supervisor Kennedy; it carried with Supervisors Serna, Kennedy and Hume voting yes, Supervisor Rodriguez voting no and Supervisor Desmond absent.
The board directed staff to return with the Sheriff's future-acquisition request for separate consideration once the budget deliberation period is complete.
