Under a new law, the Sheriff's Department has released a list of its military equipment and items it intends to buy; some gear will be on display at Monday forum
Sophisticated bomb-squad robots, large-caliber guns, special bullets that can penetrate glass and metal, explosive rounds that can blast through locks, a wide array of drones — these are all in the Sheriff Department’s arsenal. In all, the department has enough military-style gear to fill a 72-page report.
Under Assembly Bill 481, which took effect last year, law enforcement agencies across the state must receive permission from governing boards — like the county Board of Supervisors — to continue using the equipment they already have and before buying more. The law also requires agencies to annually report their military equipment inventory, its cost and usage and to hold a community engagement meeting.
While law enforcement officials view military equipment as tools that can protect officers and the public during dangerous or potentially dangerous situations, critics have said it creates a strong show of force that terrorizes neighborhoods, particularly communities of color.
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