Title
Report regarding a resolution approving the 2023 Military Equipment Annual Report for the South San Francisco Police Department in compliance with Assembly Bill 481 (Adam Plank, Police Captain)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council review the 2023 Military Equipment Annual Report and approve the associated resolution for continued use of specific military equipment, in accordance with state law.
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
On September 30, 2021, California Assembly Bill 481 was signed into law, pertaining to law enforcement's use of specific items defined as military equipment. In addition to approving a Military Equipment Policy, law enforcement agencies shall submit an annual military equipment report for each type of military equipment approved by the governing body.
The South San Francisco Police Department (SSFPD) does not possess items from every category, but it does utilize equipment that provides officers with additional options when faced with dangerous incidents and reduces the risk to both community members and officers. The items offer our trained peace officers vital resources for safely resolving potentially hazardous incidents while complying with the department's use of force policy.
A part of the annual report requires the police department to facilitate a community meeting regarding the Military Equipment Policy and provide information from the previous year's annual report. On March 25, 2024, at 5:00 pm, SSFPD hosted a community engagement meeting at the police department. The meeting was advertised in English/Spanish on SSFPD's website and via the "Update from the Mayor" email distribution list. The meeting was focused on information from the 2023 Military Equipment Annual Report, and questions were answered regarding funding sources, circumstances influencing equipment use, and training requirements.
During the 2023 calendar year, there were 30 incidents when equipment from the Mil...
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