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Police Department <br />www.santa-ana.org/pd <br />Item # 31 <br />or City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />Staff Report <br />May 3, 2022 <br />TOPIC: Use of Military Equipment by the Santa Ana Police Department <br />AGENDA TITLE: <br />Consider an Ordinance Amending Section 2-809 of Article VII.II of Chapter 2 of the Santa <br />Ana Municipal Code Adopting a Policy Pursuant for the Use of Military Equipment by the <br />Santa Ana Police Department Pursuant to California Assembly Bill 481 (Government <br />Code § 7070 et. seq.) <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />Approve first reading of an ordinance adopting a policy for the use of military equipment <br />by the Santa Ana Police Department pursuant to California Assembly Bill 481 <br />(Government Code § 7070 et. seq.). <br />DISCUSSION <br />Assembly Bill 481 (AB 481 or the Bill), codified at Government Code sections 7070 <br />through 7075 requires a law enforcement agency (LEA) to obtain approval from the <br />applicable governing body, via adoption of a "military equipment" use policy (the Policy) <br />by ordinance (the Ordinance), prior to the LEA funding, acquiring, or using military <br />equipment. The Police Department seeks City Council adoption of the attached Military <br />Equipment Use Policy — Department Policy 707 (Exhibit 2), in order to allow the <br />Department to continue to use the vital equipment specified therein, as well as acquire <br />new equipment. <br />Items deemed "military equipment" by AB 481 are used as a component of overall best <br />practices for LEAs throughout the country. These tools have been tested in the field, and <br />are used by LEAs to enhance community and officer safety. Loss of these items would <br />reduce the Department's ability to safely resolve critical incidents, jeopardizing the welfare <br />of community members and Department personnel. <br />The term "military equipment", as used in AB 481, in fact, does not necessarily indicate <br />equipment that has been used by the military. Pursuant to AB 481, items deemed to be <br />"military equipment" include, but are not limited to, unmanned aerial or ground vehicles, <br />armored rescue vehicles, command and control vehicles, pepper balls, less lethal <br />