Assembly Bill 481 - Montclair Police Department Military Equipment Policy

The Montclair Police Department's Annual Military Equipment Use Public Meeting will be held on May 9, 2024 at the Montclair Police Department. Members of the public are invited to attend in person, or via the following Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81128176626

On September 30, 2021, Governor Newsom signed into law seven major peace officer reform bills, including Assembly Bill 481. AB 481 was authored by Assemblymember David Chieu (D-San Francisco) to address the funding, acquisition, and use of items lawmakers deemed to be considered “military equipment.”

This bill requires law enforcement agencies, including the Montclair Police Department, “to obtain approval of the applicable governing body, by adoption of a military equipment use policy, as specified, by ordinance at a regular meeting held pursuant to specified open meeting laws, prior to taking certain actions relating to the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment, as defined.” The full text of AB 481 is available here.

Furthermore, AB 481 requires similar approval for the continued use of “military equipment” acquired by the Montclair Police Department prior to January 1, 2022, and allows the governing body to approve the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment within its jurisdiction only if it determines that the military equipment meets specified standards.

AB 481 Definition of Military Equipment (Government Code 7070)

The Assembly Bill has created Government Code 7070 to designate the following 15 categories of items as military equipment:

Category 1: Unmanned, remotely piloted, powered aerial or ground vehicles
Category 2: Mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles or armored personnel carriers
Category 3: High mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWV), two-and-one-half-ton trucks, five-ton trucks, or wheeled vehicles that have a breaching or entry apparatus attached
Category 4: Tracked armored vehicles that provide ballistic protection to their occupants
Category 5: Command and control vehicles that are either built or modified to facilitate the operational control and direction of public safety units
Category 6: Weaponized aircraft, vessels, or vehicles of any kind
Category 7: Battering rams, slugs, and breaching apparatuses that are explosive in nature
Category 8: Firearms and ammunition of .50 caliber or greater, excluding standard-issue shotguns and standard-issue shotgun ammunition
Category 9: Specialized firearms and ammunition of less than .50 caliber, including firearms and accessories identified as assault weapons in Penal Code § 30510 and Penal Code §30515, with the exception of standard-issue handguns
Category 10: Any firearm or firearm accessory that is designed to launch explosive projectiles
Category 11: Noise-flash diversionary devices and explosive breaching tools
Category 12: Munitions containing tear gas or OC, excluding standard, service-issued handheld pepper spray
Category 13: TASER® Shockwave, microwave weapons, water cannons, and long-range acoustic devices
Category 14: Kinetic energy weapons and munitions
Category 15: Any other equipment as determined by a governing body or a state agency to require additional oversight

The Montclair Police Department is in current possession of items in Categories 2, 5, 9, 12, 13, and 14 from the above list. All items currently in possession of the Montclair Police Department have been approved during the associated budgetary periods commensurate with the items purchased.

Requirements of AB 481

AB 481 requires each law enforcement agency's governing body to adopt a written military equipment use policy by ordinance in a public forum by April 30, 2022, in order to continue the use of this previously acquired military equipment effective May 1, 2022. The Montclair Police Department is providing information to our residents on following required materials:

The Montclair Police Department’s draft Military Equipment Policy §707 is available to view here. The AB 481 newly defined list of “military equipment” currently in the Montclair Police Department’s possession is included in the draft Military Equipment Policy.
Establish a concern or complaint process. The Montclair Police Department always has had a means for the public to submit complaints online or in-person, and further information is also available by viewing the Montclair Police Department Policy Manual, specifically §1009.
Members of the public may also register complaints or concerns or submit questions about the use of each specific type of military equipment by contacting Captain Reed, the Military Equipment Coordinator here. These complaints, concerns, or questions will be promptly handled within 10 days absent extraordinary circumstances.
Prepare an Annual Report to include the use of military equipment, any complaints received, any internal audits or other information about violations of the Montclair Police Department Military Policy §707, the cost of such use and other similar information. This webpage will be utilized for distribution of any updates to the above materials as well as the Annual Report. The first Annual Report will be distributed on or around February 2023

Public Input Regarding AB 481

The Montclair Police Department has uploaded multiple written documents on this website 30-days prior to a public meeting to meet the requirements of AB 481. Members of the public are encouraged to contact the Montclair Police Department at (909) 448-3600, or by contacting Captain Ventura via email at bventura@cityofmontclair.org with any questions or concerns. Also, visit the City of Montclair’s webpage here for information on all upcoming public meetings pertaining to this matter.

Assembly Bill 481 – Montclair Police Department Military Equipment Policy