TO: LINDA REICH, CITY MANAGER
FROM: KEVIN MENSEN, CHIEF OF POLICE
SUBJECT
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Assembly Bill (AB) 481 - Funding, Acquisition, and Use Policy.
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RECOMMENDATION
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1) Conduct a Public Hearing and 2) approve the introduction of Ordinance No. 2026-003, approving the Chino Police Department's "Military Equipment" Use Policy per the requirements of Assembly Bill (AB) 481, to be read by number and title only and waive further reading of the ordinance.
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FISCAL IMPACT
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CITY OF CHINO MISSION / VISION / VALUES / STRATEGIC ISSUES
The recommendation detailed above further the City’s values and strategic issues that serve as key pillars on which identified priorities, goals, and action plans are built, by fostering:
• Public Service Excellence through Internal and External Partnerships
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BACKGROUND
Effective January 1, 2022, Assembly Bill (AB) 481 requires all California law enforcement agencies to obtain approval of the applicable governing body (Mayor and City Council), by adoption of a “military equipment” use policy prior to taking certain actions relating to the funding, acquisition, or use of “military equipment”, as defined.
ISSUES/ANALYSIS
AB 481 is misleading in the use of the term “military equipment.” The Chino Police Department does not use equipment obtained from the military. The Chino Police Department does not participate in the 1033 program for procuring surplus military equipment. The acquisition and implementation of each tool the department uses is designed to help officers deescalate, create distance, increase safety, and most importantly assist in the preservation of human life.
Assembly Bill (AB) 481 requires each law enforcement agency's governing body to adopt a written military use policy by ordinance in addition to other requirements by the bill. The following are required:
• Publish the draft military equipment use policy to the Police Department’s website 30 days ahead of a public hearing to approve the policy.
• Obtain approval by the applicable governing body (Mayor and City Council), by adoption of a military equipment use policy prior to taking certain actions relating to the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment, as defined. (See definitions below)
• Publish an annual report by the law enforcement agency to include each type of military equipment approved by the governing body.
• Annual review of the military equipment use ordinance by the governing body, and option to either disapprove a renewal of a type of military equipment or amend the military equipment use policy if it determines that the military equipment does not comply with standards for approval.
• Hold at least one well-publicized and conveniently located community engagement meeting within 30 days of submitting and publicly releasing the annual military equipment report.
AB 481 designates the following categories of items as military equipment:
• Unmanned, remotely piloted, powered aerial or ground vehicles.
• 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.
• Area denial electroshock devices, microwave weapons, water cannons, long-range acoustic devices (LRADs), acoustic hailing devices, and sound cannons.
• Kinetic energy weapons and munitions.
• Any other equipment as determined by a governing body or a state agency to require additional oversight.
To meet the requirements of AB 481, the Chino Police Department has drafted a policy and ordinance which has been reviewed by the City Attorney.
Prior to obtaining approval by the City Council, AB 481 also requires the police department to post the draft ordinance, policy and equipment list on our website which can be found here:
<https://www.cityofchino.org/269/Policies-Procedures-SB-978>
Additionally, AB 481 requires the department to host a community engagement meeting which was hosted on Friday, March 27, 2026, at the Chino Police Department. This meeting was advertised at least 30-days in advance and community members had the opportunity to discuss funding, acquisition, and our use of “military equipment,” as defined by AB 481.
Attachment: Ordinance 2026-003 Chino Police Department Lexipol Policy
“Military Equipment” Inventory List