SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — The San Diego County Sheriff's Department held a community engagement meeting Monday about the funding and use of military equipment.
In the meeting, the Sheriff's Department displayed the equipment and vehicles detailed in their 2022 annual military equipment report. The public asked questions or express feedback and concern on the departments funding, acquisition or use of the military equipment detailed in the report.
Monday's meeting was a part of state law mandated effort for increased transparency and accountability in state and local law enforcement agencies. Passed in January 2022, AB-481, that requires law enforcement agencies to post annual military equipment report that details what equipment they have, cost, and usage for the previous year.
The state law also requires agency reports to be approved by a governing body, The posting of the report for the public to read, and to hold a public meeting after approval. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved the Sheriff's department report on April 4.
From rifles, explosives, bomb suits, armored vehicles, drones and even robots---all military equipment the San Diego Sheriff's Department has used in past critical events.
Under a new law, law enforcement agencies across the state must get permission for any current or future military equipment.
This week, the board of supervisors approved the report.
“Let them know what we have and if we are going to purchase any new equipment and the meeting that we have in person is to get people here to let them see what we have,” said Lieutenant Chris Gavile, with SDSD.
Here in California, the conversation about military style equipment was amplified after the George Floyd protests, which in some cases turned into riots.
Officers in cities used armored vehicles and tear gas to break up crowds, which had some people questioning if there was excessive force.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 481 into law in 2021, giving governing bodies regulatory power over all equipment owned by local law enforcement agencies.
“Some people all really know what they have seen in the movies. We want to explain to them how it's really used and how it saves lives,” said Gavile.
They hope that community events like these can help destigmatize the equipment and bring more trust from the community.
Some of the equipment used by the San Diego Sheriff's department, specifically their Deputies, includes drones, armored vehicles, bomb squad robots, high caliber ammunition, and less lethal shotguns, according to the department's 2022 report.
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