Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Law Enforcement Oversight topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sheriff's office renews military‑equipment policy as supervisors press on community use and oversight
Summary
The board approved renewal of the Sheriff's Office military equipment ordinance and received the annual AB 481 report on items in inventory (BearCat, drones, bomb squad gear); supervisors sought comparisons with neighboring counties and clearer procurement oversight and reporting.
The Board of Supervisors voted Oct. 7 to renew the Sheriff's Office military equipment ordinance and received the department's annual AB 481 report outlining equipment in inventory, recent deployments and a planned modest aircraft replacement purchase.
Sheriff's Captain Eamon Allen summarized the inventory and deployments: unmanned aircraft systems used 66 times for search and rescue, crime scene mapping and other operations; bomb squad tools were used on 60 occasions; the armored rescue vehicle (BearCat) was deployed 16 times and the mobile command vehicle 12 times. Allen said some items, including certain 50‑caliber rifles, were acquired through seizures or grants and that most high‑value equipment was purchased with grant funding at no direct cost to the county.
Supervisor Spear pressed on community outreach use of the BearCat and on the sheriff's use of less‑lethal munitions and asked staff to survey neighboring counties on which items they maintain. County counsel and staff emphasized the annual review and the board's opportunity for oversight under AB 481.
The board approved the ordinance renewal by roll call. Supervisors asked for continued public reporting and consultation as the sheriff's office implements new purchases and deployments.
