Military Gear Disclosure: SoCo and Healdsburg Public Meetings

HEALDSBURG, CA — The Sonoma County Sheriff will hold a public community on Thursday to discuss the military-style equipment the agency currently owns and uses.

Law enforcement agencies are required to discuss the funding, acquisition, and use of military equipment each year.

Thursday's meeting will include a brief presentation and overview of the department’s annual military equipment report, along with opportunities for residents to ask questions, see demonstrations, and provide feedback.

Residents will have the chance to speak directly with deputies and better understand how and when they may use the equipment in a community.

The report and meeting are required under Assembly Bill 481, a 2022 California law designed to increase transparency, accountability, and public oversight of military equipment used by law enforcement agencies.

The law requires police departments to publicly disclose the military equipment they have, how it is funded, the specific purposes for which police can use it, and the policies governing its deployment.

The Healdsburg Police Department will hold a local AB 481 meeting March 28.

Under AB 481, agencies must:

• Adopt a policy on the use of military equipment approved by the governing body (such as a city council).
• Publish an annual report detailing how often the department used the equipment, and whether any complaints or issues arose.
• Provide opportunities for community engagement, including public meetings like this one.

If you go: March 19, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Sheriff’s Office Main Office, 2796 Ventura Ave., Santa Rosa

Comments can be sent to sheriff-feedback@sonomacounty.gov.