Fullerton Police Department Chief Jon Radus gave a presentation on Government Code 7070, which is the military equipment policy. 

“In 2021, Assembly Bill 481 passed and was signed into law that requires every law enforcement agency to adopt a military equipment policy and have their governing body approve that policy. The Fullerton City Council is the governing body in the City of Fullerton,” said Radus. 

Fullerton PD does not possess any tactical equipment obtained through the 1033 program or military equipment through that program Section 2576a, Title 10 of the US Code, AB 481, and the government code 7070. According to the code, Military equipment includes many items developed explicitly for civilian law enforcement and some developed and available to the general public. 

Radus continued, “We utilize remotely piloted powered aerial vehicles called UAS or drones. We use wheeled vehicles with an attached breaching or entry apparatus, which armored personnel carriers command. Public safety units’ operational control and direction are mobile command posts. We have a BearCat, an armored personnel carrier and rescue vehicle. We have specialized firearms and ammunition consisting of less than 50 caliber, including assault weapons. Our patrol rifles on our SWAT team are semi-automatic rifles. We also have specialized shotguns, which are breaching shotguns, and specialized ammunition for breaching shotguns. We have 40mm, called sponge guns. We have bean bags and rubber bullets for crowd control. I don’t know the last time we used them, and their specialty impacting munitions called SIMs are essential for use in training. We do have flash bangs, tear gas, and pepper balls that SWAT operators have been specially trained to carry. We also have battering Rams, breaching tools that allow us to enter a locked door.”

“We don’t have unmanned, remotely piloted, ground vehicles, Mine-resistant Ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles, humvees, 2 1/2 tons of trucks, and 5 tons trucks or tracked armored vehicles. We don’t have crafts such as helicopters, boats, or vehicles with mounted weapons. We don’t have any firearm that launches explosives. We don’t have a long-range acoustic device, which is an LRAD item. We don’t have taser shockwave, microwave weapons, water cannons, explosive breaching tools, or breaching apparatuses that are explosive,” said Radus. 

After a vigorous public discussion of item 4 concerning renewing policy around police possession and use of military weapons came to a close, with the only three members present passing the policy on April 16 (Jung participating through Zoom left at 7:30 and did not return and Dunlap was absent, no reason given).

Acting Mayor Bruce Whitaker and councilmember Dr. Shana Charles agreed to a break as students chanted, “No more blood on Fullerton’s streets,” and then peacefully left the council chambers. The meeting resumed at 8:28.

AB41 requires law enforcement agencies to publish their policy on their website so the public can raise concerns or submit questions.

MilitaryEquipment@FullertonPD.org. They can always call 714-738-2885. This is listed on the City of Fullerton’s website: https://www.cityoffullerton.com/home/showpublisheddocment/5931/638175016186230000.

This letter was given to the City Council before comments on this item were made.