BrentwoodBRENTWOOD — Brentwood will quickly have new guidelines its police should observe earlier than shopping for, buying and utilizing navy gear underneath a brand new coverage the Metropolis Council unanimously authorised on Tuesday.
Beneath the brand new guidelines, police must receive the Metropolis Council’s approval earlier than buying or shopping for something thought-about navy gear underneath state tips. If a coverage had not been authorised, police wouldn't have been ready to make use of the gear.
The brand new laws stem from Meeting Invoice 481, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed on Sept. 30, together with six different police reform legal guidelines. Beneath the legislation, legislation enforcement businesses should set up insurance policies by Might 1 and acquire approvals from their governing our bodies for navy gear.
Authored by Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, the invoice’s intent is to handle the general public’s considerations about transparency, accountability and oversight concerning legislation enforcement’s acquisition and use of navy gear.
Brentwood Police Capt. Tim Herbert stated to adjust to the brand new legislation, the police division will arrange an annual assembly explaining what military-type gear it has used and any requests for buying extra within the upcoming 12 months.
“So it’ll be a clean course of,” he stated. “I don’t suppose there’ll be any hiccups.”
The time period “navy gear,” as outlined in AB 481, nonetheless, doesn't essentially discuss with gear the navy makes use of, in response to police. “Navy gear” contains such objects as drones or robots, armored autos, command and management autos, rubber bullet launchers, tear gasoline and diversionary units resembling flash bangs, in response to the employees report.
Like Pittsburg, which authorised an identical coverage final week, Brentwood police will have the ability to maintain and use the navy gear it has, however must host one group engagement assembly inside 30 days of publicly releasing its annual navy gear stock and use report.
Herbert, in his report, stated that such gear is used to boost resident and officer security.
On this metropolis of 66,616 residents, the police division has three drones, numerous semi-automatic and automated rifles and ammunition, two sub machine weapons, 30 warmth grenades, battering rams and breaching equipment, tear gasoline and flashbang diversionary units.
Some residents questioned the usage of navy gear.
“I simply have some questions for the necessity for this gear,” Carolina Villaseca stated. “It’s simply regarding that we'd like military-grade gear in Brentwood.”
She additionally questioned the police use of drones, noting there's a privateness challenge with drones flying over houses.
“What occurs to that footage?” she requested. “How many individuals view it and is it then deleted? The place is the undeleted portion saved?”
Police Chief Tom Hansen stated that police have a strict coverage on drone utilization and “are very cognizant of these civil rights points and civil liberty points.” There are additionally closing dates, after which drone footage is destroyed, he stated.
Ben Kellogg stated he understood the necessity for some gear for attainable hostage conditions, however questioned among the higher-powered navy rifles.
“Can we plan on having insurgents, do we've on planning on having al Qaeda coming in?” he requested. “I imply, why do we'd like these things within the first place? It looks like I don’t need to demean issues, however it looks like that is simply type of, toys for the police division.”
Hansen stated he understood the considerations and has stayed away from buying “tank-like” gear for the division. They don't have 50-caliber rifles however they do have a totally geared up SWAT Group, he stated.
“I do know among the considerations our group has, we don’t need to see our law enforcement officials and navy gear out on our streets,” he stated. “It’s a really, very unhealthy factor to see once we’re strolling by means of airports and we see navy officers and our simply offers us a sense that we’re being occupied by our navy.”
That stated, the police chief stated he needs to make certain his division is ready in case one thing occurs, resembling a hostage scenario at a movie show.
“I feel you’re going to need our absolutely geared up SWAT workforce going right into a hostage rescue,” he stated. “And I need to be prepared. I take a look at it as a high-paid insurance coverage coverage for the residents of Brentwood.”
Hansen famous the division hopes to buy SWAT alternative rifles within the subsequent fiscal 12 months.
Councilwoman Susannah Meyer stated she supported this police reform measure, noting it enhances accountability. Councilwomen Karen Rarey and Jovita Mendza additionally supported the measure.
“I perceive the folks which are a little bit upset about it; I get it,” Mendoza stated. “However so long as I’ve been in Brentwood, I’ve by no means seen a police officer misuse any gear.”
“I feel it’s necessary that we offer our officers with the instruments which are essential to do the job that must be accomplished, and by hog-tying them and never giving them, these may trigger additional hurt in our group,” Rarey added.
As a police chaplain, Mayor Joel Bryant agreed, noting that having sure gear available will help defend residents and officers.
“They have been in a position to maintain from having to injure or kill somebody as a result of they'd the correct gear to maintain that individual protected as nicely,” he stated.