Open Meeting On Police Military Equipment Today

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — The Santa Rosa Police Department will host a public community meeting today to discuss the military-style equipment it owns and uses, as required by state law.

The 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.

Staff will explain the purpose and policies governing equipment covered by California Assembly Bill 481 (AB 481), including unmanned aerial systems (drones), the rapid response vehicles, and the armored rescue vehicles. Attendees will have the chance to speak directly with police and better understand how and when police may use the equipment in a community.

AB 481 is 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.

Under AB 481, agencies must:

• Adopt a policy on the use of military equipment approved by their 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: Thursday, 5-6 p.m., Utility Field Operations Building, 35 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa

For accommodations, including translation services, contact Kim Hawkins at 707-543-3556 or khawkins@srcity.org.