17 - Laserfiche WebLink

c. The results of any internal audits, any information about violations of the military equipment use policy, and any actions taken in response d. The total annual cost for each type of military equipment, including acquisition, personnel, training, transportation, maintenance, storage, upgrade, and other ongoing costs, and from what source funds will be provided for the military equipment in the calendar year following submission of the annual military equipment report e. The quantity possessed for each type of military equipment f. If the Police Department intends to acquire additional military equipment in the next year, the quantity sought for each type of military equipment. The Military Equipment Use Policy and Government Code section 7072 also require that within 30 days of submitting and publicly releasing the annual military equipment report, the police department shall hold at least one well-publicized and conveniently located community engagement meeting, at which the public may discuss and ask questions regarding the annual military equipment report and the police department's funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment. AB 481 further requires the governing body review the ordinance that has been adopted approving the funding, acquisition, and use of military equipment at least annually and vote on whether to renew the ordinance. The Annual Military Equipment Use Report for 2022 was made publicly available on the department's website on February 23, 2023, and a community meeting was held on March 8, 2023, to seek community input regarding the use of this equipment. The meeting included a presentation of the Annual Military Equipment Use Report for 2022 and an opportunity to discuss and ask questions about the content of the report, funding, acquisition, or the use of specified equipment; 16 people attended the meeting. Overall, the group expressed support of the ownership and use of the equipment. There were questions surrounding the frequency of usage and evaluating whether the department should maintain items not being utilized on a consistent basis. Another comment from a community member encouraged the department to use a measured approach when dealing with those in mental health crisis and not escalating to the immediate use of less-lethal delivery systems. Other attendees questioned why the police department did not participate in the federal military surplus program (1033 program) from a position of fiscal responsibility. There was a strong sentiment from those in attendance that they trust their police department as subject matter experts in determining the tools that are needed to keep the community safe; they want the police department to have the continued ability to evaluate these tools and acquire what is needed to keep officers and the community safe. CONCLUSION Staff is recommending approval to renew the Military Equipment Use Policy to utilize existing resources and procure new equipment that will aid the department's ability to offer de-escalation and provide public safety services for officers and the community. Page 3 of 4