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Board re‑adopts sheriff's military equipment policy under AB 481, receives annual inventory report
Summary
The Board of Supervisors received and filed the Sheriff's annual military equipment report and introduced an ordinance to readopt and amend the Sheriff's military equipment use policy under Assembly Bill 481; staff noted community engagement and usage statistics (e.g., Bearcats used eight times in 2025).
Santa Maria — The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on June 23 received a presentation from Lieutenant Travis Henderson and the Sheriff's Office on the re‑adoption and amendment of the county’s military equipment use policy required by Assembly Bill 481 and reviewed the sheriff’s inventory and annual report.
Henderson outlined AB 481’s requirements for a public use policy, a public inventory, oversight and annual community engagement. He described the inventory categories (drones, command vehicles, battering rams, specialized firearms, MRAP vehicle used primarily for search and rescue) and listed philanthropic and grant sources that have funded some equipment acquisitions.
Board members questioned donation sources, maintenance costs and usage rates: Henderson reported that the Sheriff’s Office documented Bearcat usages on eight separate operations in 2025 and no MRAP operational uses that year. He described a small drone pilot program funded through donations. No public commenters signed up to speak on this item.
Staff recommended receipt and filing of the annual military equipment report and approval of introduction of an ordinance to readopt and amend the policy; the board approved recommended actions A through E unanimously.
What happens next: The board introduced the ordinance readopting and amending the Military Equipment Use Policy; final adoption will follow the required procedure for ordinance introduction and reading.
