Central Coast law enforcement required to list their military-style equipment - KSBW Monterey
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. —
Law enforcement across the Central Coast and state are now required to list their military-style equipment and make that information available for public review.
Assembly Bill 841 monitors and controls that equipment and the governor signed that bill into law last September.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office held a community zoom meeting to explain the law Monday night at 6:30 p.m. and release information about proposed equipment funding, acquisition and use policy.
"I think it's a godsend that Sacramento, has given us the opportunity to first meet with these agencies and listen to what they have to say about the weapons they have," said Lee Brokaw, a member of Veterans for Peace.
He's critical of law enforcement’s use of military-style equipment. He says it shows a strong show of force when driving into neighborhoods with large-caliber firearms and armored vehicles.
"All of these weapons that are on these lists are intended to be used against the citizens of the community where these officers are supposed peace officers. Not military officers."
"The interesting thing about this Assembly Bill is they designate what items they consider military-style equipment," said Santa Cruz County Sergeant, Daniel Robbins.
The Sheriff's Office has about 20 items that qualify as military-style equipment.
Some of them are command and control items like the bomb team vehicle.
But the department also has bola wraps, drones and flashbangs.
"What this bill was really aimed at was law enforcement transparency and accountability. And so, this bill outlines a couple of things: One being the policy and ordinance being established for the use of military-style equipment and it has to be approved by a government entity which in our case is the board of supervisors." said, Robbins.
The Santa Cruz Police Department is also working on its list of military-style equipment.
It's scheduled to be released to the public next week.
One of those items is the "bear cat" armored vehicle that Homeland Security provided back in 2016 at no cost to the city. But there were plenty of public outcries when it arrived.
"I think we're all open to having productive conversations and suggestions, but at the same time, there are good pieces of equipment that keep our community and our officers safe." said, Santa Cruz Interim Police Chief, Bernie Escalante.
The Sheriff's Office is scheduled to present its information to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on March 22. The police department will present it to the Public Safety Committee on March 23. Eventually, it'll be sent to the city council for their approval in April.
source: https://www.ksbw.com/article/central-coast-law-enforcement-required-to-list-their-military-style-equipment/39433448
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