RES 2024019 - Laserfiche WebLink

The primary purpose of chemical agents, such as non-lethal CS gas, is to cause a barricaded suspect to exit the structure in which the suspect is barricaded. The gas irritates the eyes and throat. Deploying gas inside a structure may reduce the need to send officers into a dangerous location where a confrontation may occur. The practice is intended to minimize injury to officers and suspects. Chemical agents may be used to disperse large, unlawful assemblies, but the Police Department has never used chemical agents for this purpose. “Taser Shockwave, microwave weapons, water cannons, and the Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD).” The Police Department does not use any of the described devices. Taser Shockwave is a device built by Axon Technologies to deny entry to certain areas and has no law enforcement application. Microwave weapons are not in use by law enforcement. The Pleasanton Police Department or any regional agencies do not use water cannons. Long Range Acoustic Devices have applications to deliver highly audible public addresses. They are used by some law enforcement agencies but are not in use by the Pleasanton Police Department. “The following projectile launch platforms and their associated munitions: 40mm projectile launchers, “bean bag,” rubber bullet, and specialty impact munition (SIM) weapons.” The Pleasanton Police Department possesses 40mm launch platforms which has been previously approved by City Council. The police department purchased 24 launchers in 2023 to outfit the department's marked patrol fleet. The police department has two multi-launchers arriving in 2024 to be placed in the supervisor vehicles. They may be used as less-lethal impact devices as an alternative to a higher level of force or to deploy chemical agents. The Police Department utilizes 12-gauge beanbag rounds fired from a shotgun and the FN-303 launcher as less-lethal devices. These are intended to provide alternatives to higher levels of force when reasonable and necessary. The FN-303 functions similarly to a paintball gun and can be loaded with different ammunition, including impact, pava (pepper spray), and marking rounds. Marking rounds leave a paint stain on clothing to identify a suspect later. Today the standard less-lethal ammunition patrol officers carry are beanbag rounds and FN-303 impact rounds. Summary of Military Equipment Usages The City of Pleasanton is in Alameda County and has a population of approximately 80,000 people. The city is located at the junction of Interstate 580 and Interstate 680, which is referred to as the county's Tri-Valley. The police department is authorized for 118 positions, which consist of both sworn and professional staff members. 9 MILITARY EQUIPMENT USE REPORT 2023