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Sheriff's Office recommending the Board Approve the Final Passage (Second Reading) of Ordinance 5160 - establishing a Military Equipment Use Policy. (Cont. 5/17/2022, Item 26)
FUNDING: N/A
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On May 17, 2022, the Board heard the Introduction (First Reading) of Ordinance 5160 and Continued the matter to May 24, 2022 for Final Passage (Second Reading).
Issue Detail: Assembly Bill 481 (AB 481 or the Bill), codified at Government Code sections 7070 through 7075 requires a law enforcement agency (LEA) to obtain approval from the applicable governing body, via adoption of a “military equipment” use policy (the Policy) by ordinance (the Ordinance), prior to the LEA funding, acquiring, or using military equipment. The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office (EDSO) seeks Board of Supervisor adoption of the attached Military Equipment Use Policy, in order to allow EDSO to continue to use the vital equipment specified therein, as well as acquire new equipment as identified in the future.
Items deemed to be “military equipment” by AB 481 are used as a component of overall best practices for LEAs throughout the country. These tools have been tested in the field and are used by LEAs to enhance citizen safety and officer safety. Loss of these items would jeopardize the welfare of citizens of El Dorado County and peace deputies within the EDSO.
The term “military equipment”, as used in AB 481, in fact does not necessarily indicate equipment that has been used by the military. Pursuant to AB 481, items deemed to be “military equipment” include, but are not limited to, unmanned aerial or ground vehicles, armored vehicles, command and control vehicles, pepper balls, less lethal shotguns, less lethal 40mm projectile launchers, long range acoustic devices, and flashbangs.
EDSO is committed to using the most up to date tools and equipment to safeguard the citizens of El Dorado County. Many of the items deemed to be “military equipment” by AB 481 ...
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