Monday Morning Bullpen: Military Equipment and Sunsetting Ordinances

After a dark week, a full slate of government committees and commissions return to action.

Of course, the City Council is always the top dog and this week is no exception.

The item that immediately caught my eye is 17. The Military Use Policy.

Under Assembly Bill AB 481, law enforcement agencies that seek to continue use of military equipment must draft a military equipment use policy and seek approval of the policy from their governing body by ordinance.

I like this one.

During Ferguson, the police there looked like a military force due to the Department of Defense’s Excess Property Program, also known as Program 1033, which allows police departments to obtain military equipment.

Get this though, the equipment is free. Local law enforcement agencies just have to pay for shipping and maintenance.

Kind of reminds me of the old Columbia House Record Club that was always in TV Guide, where you got a few records for a penny and of course shipping and handling.

President Obama eventually stepped in and reformed the program and prohibited the transfer of certain weapons, like bayonets and tanks, and restricted other weapons like Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, or MRAPs, from being sent to police departments.

Pasadena had two MRAP’s years ago obtained under the program. Once the City Council got wind of it after the PW broke the story, the elected officials asked to see the vehicles and through the City Manager direction, the department returned one of the military vehicles.

It’s important to note the term “military equipment,” as used in AB 481, does not necessarily indicate equipment that has been used by the military.

Of course some folks will scream about the local inventory.

Take that with a grain of salt, some of this stuff is necessary.

So what do the local police have?

Well according to an inventory released last week: unmanned aerial or ground vehicles, armored vehicles, command and control vehicles, tear gas, pepper balls, less-lethal 40mm projectile launchers, specialized firearms and ammunition, and light-sound distraction devices commonly known as “flash bangs.”

Only three items were obtained from the military, three Bell OH-58 helicopters.

The rest of the equipment in PPD’s inventory has been sourced through direct purchases and seizures.

Not too bad all things considered.

I have no problem with this kind of accountability. Considering that the City Council had no idea about the second MRAP vehicle all those years ago, it seems like there should be a mechanism in place to make sure the left hand knows what the right hand is doing.

As far as the calls that will come demanding the police get rid of all the “military” equipment, those are a waste of time.

Technology is a part of law enforcement now and it’s not going away.

The City Council will also conduct the first reading of an ordinance that will sunset the COVID rent moratorium in June. I I get why they are doing this, but again we have to watch what happens next.

Yes the emergency seems to be over, and sunsetting the ordinance was inevitable.

But the last thing we need is a social pandemic pushed by a wave of evictions. Let’s hope the city and the state keep their eyes open here.

Municipal Services will consider a resolution approving participation in the low income household water assistance program. The program provides support to customers requiring assistance to pay past due water and wastewater utility bills.

Makes sense, adopt it.