HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd 858 ORDINANCE NO. 858
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CATHEDRAL CITY, CATHEDRAL CITY POLICE
DEPARTMENT POLICY NO. 708, IN ACCORDANCE WITH
ASSEMBLY BILL 481
WHEREAS, on September 30, 2021, Governor Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill
("AB") 481 to address the funding, acquisition, and use of items lawmakers deemed to be
considered "military equipment"; and
WHEREAS, AB 481 requires law enforcement agencies, including the Cathedral City
Police Department, "to obtain approval of the applicable governing body, by adoption of
a military equipment use policy," as specified, "to obtain approval of the applicable
governing body, by adoption of a military equipment use policy, as specified, by ordinance
at a regular meeting held pursuant to specified open meeting laws, prior to taking certain
actions relating to the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment, as defined;" and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the public has a right to know about any funding,
acquisition, or use of military or militaristic equipment by the City of Cathedral City, as
well as a right to participate in any City decisions to fund, acquire, or use such equipment;
and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that decisions regarding whether and how military or
militaristic equipment is funded, acquired, or used should give strong consideration to the
public's welfare, safety, civil rights, and civil liberties, and should be based on meaningful
public input; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that legally enforceable safeguards, including
transparency, oversight, and accountability measures, must be in place to protect the
public's welfare, safety, civil rights, and civil liberties before military or militaristic
equipment is funded, acquired, or used; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that for at least thirty (30) days prior to date of the
public hearing on Ordinance No.858, concerning the proposed Military Equipment Policy,
along with any Attachments, was made available on the Cathedral City Police
Department's public website; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the military equipment identified in the Military
Equipment Policy, entitled "DSM 708 Military Equipment List-CCPD" and attached hereto
as Exhibit "A," is necessary because there is no reasonable alternative that can achieve
the same objective of officer and civilian safety; and
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WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the proposed Military Equipment Policy will
safeguard the public's welfare, safety, civil rights, and civil liberties; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the military equipment identified in the Military
Equipment Policy, entitled "DSM 708 Military Equipment List-CCPD" is reasonably cost
effective ascompared
to alternatives that can achieve the same objective of
officer and civilian safety; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that prior military equipment use by the US Military is
consistent with the proposed Military Equipment Policy of the Cathedral City Police
Department; or, if not consistent, the Cathedral City Police Department has taken
corrective action to remedy nonconforming uses and ensure future compliance; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined and finds the Cathedral City Police
Department has timely sought approval of Ordinance No. 858 from the City Council to
continue the use of any military equipment that was acquired prior to January 1, 2022,
and that by approving this Ordinance No. 858, within 180 days from the date this approval
process was initiate, the City Council authorizes the Cathedral City Police Department to
continue its use of such Military Equipment.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CATHEDRAL
CITY DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. RECITALS
The City Council finds that all recitals, facts, findings, and conclusions set forth above are
true and correct and hereby incorporated by reference.
SECTION 2. ADOPTION OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT POLICY
The City Council hereby adopts the Policy No. 708, Military Equipment Policy, along with
any related Attachments, which are all attached hereto as Exhibit "A".
SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This ordinance shall be effective thirty (30) days from and after its final passage.
SECTION 6. SEVERABILITY.
If any section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of
this ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of
any court of competent jurisdiction, then such decision shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions of this ordinance. The City Council of the City of Cathedral City
hereby declare they would have adopted this ordinance, and each section, subsection,
subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any
one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions. sentences, clauses, phrases, or
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portions thereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 7. PUBLICATION.
The City Clerk is authorized and directed to cause this ordinance to be published
within fifteen (15) days after its passage in a newspaper of general circulation and
circulated within the City in accordance with Government Code Section 36933(a) or, to
cause this ordinance to be published in the manner required by law using the alternative
summary and posting procedure authorized under Government Code Section 36933 (c).
rd
INTRODUCED at the regular meetingof Cathedral CityCouncil on the 23 day
of March 2022.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at the regular meeting of Cathedral City
Council on the 13th day of April 2022.
AYES: Councilmembers Gregory, Ross and Carnevale; Mayor Pro Tern
Lamb and Mayor Gutierrez
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Ernesto Gutierrez, Mayor
ATTEST:
Tracey B1. Hermosillo, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO-FORM:
Eric. S. Vail, City Attorney
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Exhibit A
y Cathedral City Police Department
708 Cathedral City Police Department Policy Manual
Military Equipment
708.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for the approval, acquisition, and reporting
requirements of military equipment (Government Code § 7070; Government Code § 7071;
Government Code § 7072).
Pursuant to AB 481 the City Council may approve the acquisition and use of military equipment
if it determines all of the following:
a) The military equipment is necessary because there is no reasonable alternative that
can achieve the same objective of officer and civilian safety.
b) The proposed military equipment use policy will safeguard the public's welfare, safety,
civil rights, and civil liberties.
c) If purchasing the equipment, the equipment, is reasonably cost effective as compared
to available alternatives that can achieve the same objective of officer and civilian
safety; and
d) Prior military equipment used by the US Military is consistent with the military
equipment use policy of the local law enforcement; or, if not consistent, the local law
enforcement agency has taken corrective action to remedy nonconforming uses and
ensure future compliance.
The use of this equipment is governed by several police department policies which can be found
in our policies and procedures manual.
The proposed "Use Policy" and current policies in place will safeguard the public's welfare,
safety, civil rights, and civil liberties.
The following CCPD policies regulate use of this equipment and are posted on our website.
Policy 462— Unmanned Aerial Systems
Policy 703—Vehicle Use
Policy 423— Rapid Response and Deployment
Policy 431 — Patrol Rifles
Policy 308—Control Devices and Techniques
Policy 300— Use of Force
708.1.1 DEFINITIONS
Definitions related to this policy include (Government Code § 7070):
Governing body—The elected or appointed body that oversees the Department.
Military equipment— Includes but is not limited to the following:
• Unmanned, remotely piloted, powered aerial or ground vehicles.
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Military Equipment
• Mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP)vehicles or armored personnel carriers.
• High mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWV), two-and-one-half-ton trucks,
five-ton trucks, or wheeled vehicles that have a breaching or entry apparatus attached.
• Tracked armored vehicles that provide ballistic protection to their occupants.
• Command and control vehicles that are either built or modified to facilitate the
operational control and direction of public safety units.
• Weaponized aircraft, vessels, or vehicles of any kind.
• Battering rams, slugs, and breaching apparatuses that are explosive in nature. This
does not include a handheld, one-person ram.
• Firearms and ammunition of .50 caliber or greater,excluding standard-issue shotguns
and standard-issue shotgun ammunition.
• Specialized firearms and ammunition of less than .50 caliber, including firearms and
accessories identified as assault weapons in Penal Code § 30510 and Penal Code §
• 30515, with the exception of standard-issue firearms.
• Any firearm or firearm accessory that is designed to launch explosive projectiles.
• Noise-flash diversionary devices and explosive breaching tools.
• Munitions containing tear gas or OC, excluding standard, service-issued handheld
pepper spray.
• TASER®Shockwave, microwave weapons, water cannons, and long-range acoustic
devices (LRADs).
• Kinetic energy weapons and munitions.
• Any other equipment as determined by a governing body or a
state agency to require additional oversight.
708.2 POLICY
It is the policy of the Cathedral City Police Department that members of this department comply
with the provisions of Government Code § 7071 with respect to military equipment.
708.3 MILITARY EQUIPMENT COORDINATOR
The Chief of Police shall designate a member of this department to act as the military equipment
coordinator.The responsibilities of the military equipment coordinator include but are not limited to:
(a) Acting as liaison to the governing body for matters related to the requirements of this
policy.
(b) Identifying department equipment that qualifies as military equipment in the current
possession of the Department, or the equipment the Department intends to acquire
that requires approval by the governing body.
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Military Equipment
(c) Conducting an inventory of all militaryequipment at least annually.
(d) Collaborating with any allied agency that may use military equipment within the
jurisdiction of Cathedral City Police Department(Government Code § 7071).
(e) Preparing for, scheduling, and coordinating the annual community engagement
meeting to include:
1. Publicizing the details of the meeting.
2. Preparing for public questions regarding the department's funding, acquisition,
and use of equipment.
(f) Preparing the annual military equipment report for submission to the Chief of Police
and ensuring that the report is made available on the department website(Government
Code § 7072).
(g) Establishing the procedure for a person to register a complaint or concern,or how that
person may submit a question about the use of a type of military equipment, and how
the Department will respond in a timely manner.
708.4 MILITARY EQUIPMENT INVENTORY
The following constitutes a list of qualifying equipment for the policy.
See attachment: DSM 708 Military Equipment List-CCPD.pdf
708.5 APPROVAL
The Chief of Police or the authorized designee shall obtain approval from the governing body by
way of an ordinance adopting the military equipment policy. As part of the approval process, the
Chief of Police or the authorized designee shall ensure the proposed military equipment policy is
submitted to the governing body and is available on the department website at least 30 days prior
to any public hearing concerning the military equipment at issue (Government Code §7071). The
military equipment policy must be approved by the governing body prior to engaging in any of the
following (Government Code § 7071):
(a) Requesting military equipment made available pursuant to 10 USC § 2576a.
(b) Seeking funds for military equipment, including but not limited to applying for a grant,
soliciting or accepting private, local, state, or federal funds, in-kind donations, or other
donations or transfers.
(c) Acquiring military equipment either permanently or temporarily, including by borrowing
or leasing.
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Military Equipment
(d) Collaborating with another law enforcement agency in the deployment or other use of
military equipment within the jurisdiction of this department.
(e) Using any new or existing military equipment for a purpose, in a manner,or by a person
not previously approved by the governing body.
(f) Soliciting or responding to a proposal for, or entering into an agreement with,any other
person or entity to seek funds for, apply to receive, acquire, use, or collaborate in the
use of military equipment.
(g) Acquiring military equipment through any means not provided above.
708.6 COORDINATION WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS
Through the Association of Riverside County Chiefs of Police(ARCCOPS)mutual aid agreement,
all cities within Riverside County have agreed to accept the use of each law enforcement agencies
Military Equipment policy related to any enforcement action throughout Riverside County.
708.7 ANNUAL REPORT
Upon approval of a military equipment policy, the Chief of Police or the authorized designee shall
submit a military equipment report to the governing body for each type of military equipment
and annually thereafter for as long as the military equipment is available for use (Government
Code § 7072).
The Chief of Police or the authorized designee shall also make each annual military equipment
report publicly available on the department website for as long as the military equipment is
available for use. The report shall include all information required by Government Code § 7072
for the preceding calendar year for each type of military equipment in department inventory.
708.1 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Within 30 days of submitting and publicly releasing the annual report, the Department shall hold
at least one well-publicized and conveniently located community engagement meeting, at which
the Department shall discuss the report and respond to public questions regarding the funding,
acquisition, or use of military equipment.
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Attachments
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Attachment
Cathedral City Police Department Policy Manual
DSM 708 Military Equipment List-CCPD.pdf
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Published with permission by Cathedral City Police
Department
Cathedral City Police Department Specialized Equipment INVENTORY
• Unmanned,remotely piloted powered aerial vehicles
o Search and locate reported missing children or at-risk adults
o Search and Rescue Operations to locate lost or Injured hikers
o A law enforcement specific application involving Aerial DRONES are used for open
terrain or large field searches as a force-multiplier to assist in high-risk apprehensions of
armed or violent suspects. Aerial drones can be used as an interior search tool to locate
suspects barricaded inside a residence or commercial structure.
• Non-handheld battering rams,slugs,and breaching apparatuses that are explosive in nature
o Explosive breaching tools
o Avon frangible shotgun ammunition is used to breach doors and points of entry on fortified
doors or structures.The rounds are used to impact door hinges,doorknobs,and locks
• Assault Weapons defined under PC 30510&PC 30515
o Inventory includes AR style fully automatic rifles and select fire subcompact rifles.
o Semi-automatic Benelli shotguns
o Increased accuracy and precision at long range distances
• Flashbang grenades and explosive breaching tools
o Light Sound Diversionary Device (LSDD-"Flashbangs") are diversionary devices used to
minimize risk to all parties through the temporary distraction or disorientation of armed
and violent suspects that pose significant danger to the officers and community. The
effects of the LSDD reduce a suspect's reactionary capabilities and allow for momentary
disorientation, which creates a tactical advantage. LSDD is a hand delivered device and
generally deployed on the exterior of structures
o Provides a humane fright of aggressive dogs that pose a threat to officers
o Explosive breaching tools are used to breach fortified structures to establish a point of
entry. Explosive charges are fashioned to produce little to no fragmentation at the time of
detonation. Explosive breaching effectively reduces the time spent overcoming a fortified
door or structure. The reduction in time mitigating a hardened structure increasing officer
safety and the element of surprise.Blast injuries are reduced by using low yield explosives
that mechanically overcome door frames and locking mechanisms. Explosive breaching
mandates extensive schooling and certification processes
• Tear Gas
o Chemical agents are deployed through various means to include hand delivery and weapon
launchable.Munitions are either 37mm or 40mm caliber,shotgun ferret rounds or cannister
shotgun launched ordinance. Hand delivered chemical agents are placed in metal bum
boxes to reduce fire hazards
• Command and Control Vehicles built or modified to facilitate the operational control and
direction of public safety units
o Command vehicles are built in various platforms to include 'h ton pickup chassis, vans,
trailers, and RV style configurations. Vehicles are built to better assist in command and
control during law enforcement operations, natural disasters, and public safety issues.
Vehicles are designed with additional communication abilities, computers, white boards,
lighting,generators,and mission essential supplies
• 40mm projectile launchers
o Less lethal 40mm launchers and rubber bullet munitions-Munitions are configured for high
and low energy impact. Munitions have the additional benefit as a barrier round for
breaking vehicle and residential glass so that chemical munitions can be deployed.40mm
less lethal has been effective in disarming violent suspects, armed suspects, and
subjects who are suicidal with minimal injury and risk to the person, law enforcement or
the public
• Bean Bag Launchers
o Less lethal bean bag is utilized through a marked/orange colored easily identifiable less
lethal shotgun. The bean bag round is a small led pellet filled munition made of high-
density cloth. Bean bag is the predecessor to 40mm less lethal having similar benefits as
other less lethal platforms
• Rubber Bullet launchers
o Sting ball grenade launches .38 caliber rubber bullets and are hand delivered. Generalized
use in a tactical operation is infrequent in use and deployment. Search warrants, violent
combative subjects, or hostage rescue scenarios are criteria for consideration and use
against suspects.
o 40mm and 37mm launchers capable of deploying rubber bullet munitions. An effective
less lethal tool used routinely with success