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In response to Councilmember Balch, PPD Chief David Swing clarified the policy does not prohibit the <br /> PPD from participating in events like National Night Out or displaying items on the list at certain events. <br /> City Manager Beaudin clarified the proposed authorized usage section does not have clear direction on <br /> community or promotional events. He stated AB 481 was not designed to get into this level of detail as <br /> it focused on the approval of the equipment. He added many of the items on the list can be openly <br /> found in police cars across the City every day. He requested clarification on the promotional use of the <br /> ARV and robots at community events. <br /> Mayor Brown opened the public hearing. <br /> Doug Miller stated public safety is part of why he has lived in Pleasanton for 31 years. He expressed <br /> the State misrepresents much of the equipment as military equipment, particularly the items deemed <br /> less-than-lethal. He added most of the PPD's rifles are publicly available and commercially sold. He <br /> stated the law's military terminology is misleading and can lead to cities removing good options from <br /> the police. He encouraged the Council to approve the resolution. <br /> Harjaap Singh stated the items on the list are dangerous to the City, particularly the Ballistic Armored <br /> Tactical Transport (BATT). He added the crime rate is very low in Pleasanton and the items are not <br /> needed, particularly to show at community events like the Christmas Parade. He encouraged the <br /> Council not to allow the use of these weapons. <br /> In response to Mayor Brown, Chief Swing clarified the ARV is only listed as a BATT due to the report's <br /> required terminology and it is inaccurate to refer to the ARV as a tank. He stated it has a commercially <br /> sold Ford F-550 chassis and not a track drive. He added the ARV does not have a mounted weapons <br /> system or shoot projectiles. He clarified it is a personnel carrier designed to rescue officers or <br /> community members who are in a dangerous situation. <br /> In response to Councilmember Testa, Chief Swing clarified the manufacturer identifies the vehicle as a <br /> BATT but there are many different varieties of BATTs, and PPDs are identified as an ARV. <br /> Nicholas Albert, President of the Pleasanton Police Officers Association (PPOA), stated the PPOA is <br /> committed to keeping Pleasanton a safe place to live, work, and raise a family. He stated initial <br /> exposure to safety equipment like the ARV is ideally in a controlled environment. He stated events like <br /> National Night Out allow children to positively engage with officers and see the vehicle in a fun and <br /> educational setting. <br /> Joel Liu stated he chose to raise his family in Pleasanton because of its safety and schools. He stated <br /> the PPD needs to have the proper tools to maintain public safety and the military equipment should not <br /> be removed from the PPD. He expressed hopes the PPD never needs to use the equipment but <br /> acknowledged random mass shootings happen and that the PPD has to have the right equipment to <br /> handle the situation. <br /> Ryan Tujague, Vice President of the PPOA, noted his role in the PPD is community engagement and <br /> crime prevention. He noted that there have been incidents in Pleasanton where the ARV was utilized to <br /> save lives. He added that PUSD has specifically requested the ARV as part of safety demonstrations <br /> for school children and added it is the most requested vehicle to see at National Night Out. He stated <br /> the ARV is essential to the PPD's community engagement efforts. <br /> John Lindsay-Poland expressed concern the policy does not conform to AB 488 specifically regulating <br /> the use of force involving chemical agents for crowd control. He stated it is not referenced in either the <br /> policy or Section 308 of the Pleasanton Police Code. He added there are other ways to start <br /> City Council Minutes Page 12 of 18 June 21. 2022 <br />