Thursday, August 14, 2025

LA Sheriff’s Department to Host Public Meeting on Military Equipment Use

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will hold a virtual public meeting Aug. 26 to present its 2024 Annual Report on military equipment.

The online meeting runs from 5 to 6 p.m. Community members can ask questions about the department’s acquisition, funding and use of military equipment.

Assembly Bill 481 requires the annual community meeting. Under the law, all law enforcement agencies are mandated to obtain approval from governing bodies before funding, acquiring or using military equipment.

The sheriff’s department must hold the meeting within 30 days of publicly releasing its annual military equipment report.

AB 481 defines military equipment broadly. It includes unmanned aerial vehicles, armored personnel carriers and mine-resistant vehicles.

The definition covers high mobility vehicles like Humvees with breaching apparatus attached. Tracked armored vehicles and weaponized aircraft also qualify as military equipment.

Specialized weapons fall under the definition too. These include firearms over .50 caliber, assault weapons and explosive projectiles.

Less-lethal equipment is also covered. “Flashbang” grenades, tear gas, pepper balls and TASER Shockwave devices are considered military equipment.

The law includes 40mm projectile launchers and specialty impact munitions. Water cannons and long-range acoustic devices also require oversight.

Standard police equipment remains exempt. The definition excludes general equipment not designated as prohibited by the federal Defense Logistics Agency.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors can determine additional equipment requiring oversight.

To register for the meeting, go to  https://lasd.webex.com/weblink/register/r80683b4da4bd40342c80f0643966473a.

More information is available at https://lasd.org/transparency/ab481.

The public can submit comments year-round to AB481Inquiry@lasd.org.