TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Matt Henry, Chief of Police
PREPARED BY: Miguel Garcia, Lieutenant - Police
SUBJECT:
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Assembly Bill 481 - Military Equipment Policy
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ABSTRACT
Assembly Bill 481 requires law enforcement agencies to adopt a Military Equipment Use Policy and to present an Annual Military Equipment Report to the governing body for review and approval. The attached report provides a summary of the Murrieta Police Department’s military equipment inventory, usage, training, costs, complaints, and compliance over the past year.
Staff requests that City Council review the report and approve the continued use of the listed equipment in accordance with AB 481.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Receive, review, and file the annual military equipment report; and
Approve the renewal of Ordinance No. 577-22, and adopt the findings therein.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
On May 17, 2022, the City Council held a public hearing and approved the introduction of Ordinance No. 577- 22 (Vote: 5-0).
On June 7, 2022, the City Council conducted a second reading of Ordinance No. 577-22 by title only and with further reading waived (Vote: 5-0).
On May 16, 2023, the City Council approved the military equipment report and renewed Ordinance 577-22 (Vote: 5-0).
On February 6, 2024, the City Council approved the military equipment report and renewed Ordinance 577-22 (Vote: 5-0).
On April 15, 2025, the City Council approved the military equipment report and renewed Ordinance 577-22 (Vote: 5-0).
STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT
This item aligns with the City Council’s goal of: providing a high level of innovative public safety relating to priority Tier 1.
DISCUSSION
On September 30, 2021, the Governor of the State of California approved Assembly Bill 481 (AB 481), requiring law enforcement agencies to obtain approval of the applicable governing body by adopting a military equipment use policy. The Murrieta Police Department sought and obtained City Council approval of their military equipment use policy on June 7, 2022, and thereafter renewed Ordinance No. 577-22 on May 16, 2023.
AB481 further provides that the adopted policy is subject to an annual City Council review to determine whether, based on an annual military equipment report, the standards set forth in the approving ordinance have been met. The City Council may renew the authorizing ordinance, disapprove authorization for military equipment where standards have not been met, or require modifications to the military equipment use policy to address any non-compliance with standards.
Finally, the bill requires the publication of the military equipment use policy and the annual military equipment report on the Police Department’s website. This use policy was uploaded to the Murrieta Police Department’s website on April 1, 2022, for public review and is attached hereto. The approved annual military equipment report will be uploaded to the website upon review and approval by City Council.
The City Council may take action to renew the existing use policy and renew the current Ordinance, propose modifications to the existing policy, or not take action to renew the existing policy and thereby cease the use and purchase of all military equipment by the Murrieta Police Department.
PUBLIC NOTICING
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action.
ATTACHMENTS
ATT 1 - Murrieta Annual AB 481 Report - 2025
ATT 2 - Ordinance No. 577-22
ATT 3 - Murrieta Police Department Policy 709