Board accepts sheriffs AB 481 military-equipment report despite community opposition to PepperBall expansion

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted to receive the Alameda County Sheriffs Office annual military-equipment report and to approve the acquisitions and the countys military-equipment use policy required under Californias Assembly Bill 481.

Captain Dan Bridal and other Sheriff's Office representatives presented the inventory and explained projected acquisitions, which included additional PepperBall launchers and various projectiles intended as replacements for the aging FN303 platform and to provide extended range options. The Sheriffs Office said most equipment predated the ordinance that requires reporting, and that increases reflect replacement, training needs and distribution across many duty stations.

Community groups and residents urged the board to limit or reject the requested increases. Jennifer Tu of the American Friends Service Committee asked the supervisors "to not approve the PepperBall acquisition, either the launchers or the munitions, and also to ban scattershot munitions," citing safety concerns and international recommendations against indiscriminate multi-projectile rounds. Multiple speakers highlighted high firing rates, hopper capacities and the risk of eye and facial injuries; others urged redirecting funds to community programs.

Sheriff's Office staff responded that PepperBall launchers are not multi-projectile munitions (each trigger pulls a single projectile) and that a significant part of the requested inventory would be training and inert rounds. They said the FN303 platform is no longer supported by its manufacturer and that replacement launchers and compatible projectiles are necessary for operational readiness and mutual-aid obligations.

During board deliberations, supervisors pressed the Sheriffs Office on outreach for the required public meeting, the arithmetic behind requested quantities (noting a clerical error in last years posting), mutual-aid coordination and whether scattershot munitions would be phased out. The Sheriff's Office said it is evaluating alternatives and that some multi-projectile items had already been removed in previous inventory reviews.

A substitute motion to accept the sheriffs report as presented passed by roll call: Supervisor Tam Aye; Supervisor Miley Aye; President Halbert Yes; Supervisor Marquez No; Supervisor Fortunato Bass No. The vote authorized the sheriffs office annual report to be received and approved the listed acquisitions and the military-equipment use policy required by AB 481.