Crime & Safety
OC Cities Question Police Use Of Military Equipment: Report
Cities in Orange County are closely scrutinizing surplus military equipment requested by police departments, including drones and rifles.
ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Cities across Orange County are scrutinizing the types of military-grade equipment local police departments are requesting, thanks to a state law enacted last year, the Voice of OC reported.
Assembly Bill 481 requires law enforcement agencies to get approval from their "applicable governing body" before obtaining surplus military equipment. The bill was signed into law on Sept. 30 by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
While several city councils in Orange County have quickly signed off on approving equipment, some municipalities are scrutinizing what's being requested by their police departments, the Voice of OC reported.
Find out what's happening in Orange Countyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Santa Ana officials have questioned why its police department would need AR-15-style rifles and flashbang grenades. Councilman Jonathan Hernandez wondered during a recent City Council meeting if bringing in more military-grade equipment is "doing more harm than good," according to the Voice of OC's report.
Visit the Voice of OC website to read more about Orange County cities approving military equipment for their police departments.
Find out what's happening in Orange Countyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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