SANTA MONICA, CA — Santa Monica College trustees will vote Tuesday on whether to renew authorization for police equipment that includes 10 patrol rifles, two projectile launchers and thousands of rounds of ammunition classified as "military equipment" under California law.
The Santa Monica Community College District Board of Trustees is scheduled to hold a public hearing before considering renewal of the Police Department's Military Equipment Use Policy, an annual review required under Assembly Bill 481.
Despite the terminology, "military equipment" under AB 481 does not necessarily mean equipment obtained from or used by the military. California Department of Justice guidance says it is a statutory definition covering 15 categories of equipment.
SMC also says its Police Department has not obtained or used equipment procured from the U.S. Department of Defense through its Law Enforcement Support Program, according to the college's AB 481 information page.
SMC police possess equipment in three categories covered by the law, according to the department's 2026 Annual Military Equipment Report and equipment inventory.
The inventory includes 10 Colt Enhanced Patrol Rifles, 1,600 rounds of .223 duty ammunition and 11,000 rounds of .223 lead-free frangible practice ammunition. The department also has two FN Herstal 303 launchers and 150 PAVA/OC powder projectiles.
None of the equipment in the three categories was used during the period covered by the 2026 annual report, according to SMC police.
The department also reported no complaints or concerns involving the equipment and no violations of Policy 706. Internal audits found no violations, no corrective actions were required and police are seeking no new equipment.
The policy and inventory are unchanged from those previously approved by trustees, according to the Oct. 6 Board of Trustees agenda.
AB 481, which took effect in 2022, requires law enforcement agencies to obtain approval from their governing bodies before funding, acquiring or using equipment falling within the law's definition of military equipment. Agencies must also submit annual reports detailing equipment use, complaints, policy violations, audits and other information.
Trustees first approved Policy 706 in November 2024. At the time, the college said its inventory of enhanced patrol rifles, kinetic-energy weapons and ammunition had been purchased before AB 481 took effect.
The board reviewed the policy again in August 2025, holding a public hearing at which no public comments were recorded.
Tuesday's proposal, Recommendation No. 17, was submitted by SMC Police Chief Johnnie Adams. Trustees are being asked to hold a public hearing before voting on a resolution renewing the policy and authorization for the existing equipment.
There is a discrepancy in the documents accompanying the item. The agenda links to the department's 2026 annual report, but the proposed resolution refers to the "Annual Military Equipment Use Report 2025" and cites the June 2025 posting and community meeting associated with the previous year's report. The 2026 annual report itself also carries a cover-page reference to a Sept. 8, 2026 Board of Trustees meeting, although SMC's AB 481 page lists the annual review for Oct. 6.
Tuesday's meeting will be held in the Multipurpose Room at the SMC Malibu Campus, 23555 Civic Center Way. The board convenes at 5:30 p.m. before entering closed session, with the public session scheduled to reconvene at 6:30 p.m.
The meeting will also be available through the Zoom webinar listed in the Oct. 6 agenda.
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