The Colusa County Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance Tuesday designed to be more transparent about the Sheriff’s Office’s acquisition and use of “military-style” equipment.
The new equipment use policy is in compliance with Assembly Bill 481, according to Colusa County Counsel Richard Stout, who first introduced it in April.
Passage of the policy will allow the Sheriff’s Office to continue to acquire and use the equipment specified, Stout said.
AB 481 was part of seven progressive police reform bills signed into law in 2021 by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The bill was written by former Bay Area Assemblyman David Chiu to curb the purchase of decommissioned military vehicles by law enforcement, but also requires all law enforcement agencies to publicly disclose equipment such as drones and robots, tear gas, less lethal shotguns, less-lethal explosive devices, battering rams, specialized firearms, and projectile launchers, among others.
Assistant Sheriff Michael Bradwell said some of the equipment on the inventory list is old and obsolete; other equipment would only be used in rare instances.
Authorized uses for specialized less lethal weapons include riot control/civil unrest; dangerous or combative individuals; circumstances where a tactical advantage can be obtained; potentially vicious animals; and training exercises or approved demonstrations.
According to the Sheriff’s inventory list, the agency has a number of less lethal equipment, including a Remington 870 less lethal shotgun and a 12 gauge Super Shock shotgun that fires ballistic fiber bean bags.
The purpose of the less lethal firearms is to limit escalation of conflict where employment of lethal force is prohibited or undesirable, officials said.
The Sheriff’s Office also has a DJI Phantom remote control unmanned drone that is able to record video for about 30 minutes of flight time to assist officers in locating missing persons, rapidly evolving emergency situations, SWAT team deployments, and crime scene investigations.
The Sheriff’s Office also has chemical launchers, pepperball launchers, and diversionary flashbangs (devices used to distract dangerous suspects during hostage and assault situations).
The office also has a custom-built mobile command post, with dispatch capabilities, purchased for $185,000.
The complete list of equipment is posted on the Sheriff’s Office website. ■