Committee accepts amendments and continues SFPD military‑equipment policy review under AB 481

The committee reviewed SFPD's draft equipment use policy required by California Assembly Bill 481 and voted to accept offered amendments and continue the item to the call of the chair for further revision.

SFPD staff presented an inventory of equipment categories covered by AB 481 — including unmanned robots, command vans, extended range impact weapons and breaching tools — and said the department would return with finalized use policies and annual reporting as required by state law. Deputy City Attorney Anne Pearson summarized the statutory findings the board must make under AB 481: necessity (no reasonable alternative), safeguards for public welfare and civil rights, reasonable cost‑effectiveness, and prior compliance for any previously used equipment.

Committee members and multiple public commenters identified gaps in the draft: missing quantities and acquisition dates, inconsistent references to training and DGOs, an omitted inventory or use policy for assault rifles, no named independent oversight body, and apparent conflicts with AB 48 restrictions on chemical/impact crowd‑control weapons. Callers from GLIDE, the Public Defender’s Office, civil‑liberties organizations and community advocates urged the committee to use the six‑month review window to fully address such issues.

“AB‑481 grants you and other local governments greater oversight over the militarization of law enforcement,” Wesley Favors of GLIDE said. “This proposed policy is missing independent oversight and appears to grant limitless authorization.”

The committee voted to accept the mayor’s proposed amendments and to continue the matter to allow the department to supply missing information and clarify authorized uses and oversight arrangements. The chair asked the department to coordinate with community groups during the continuance and to post all supporting materials to Legistar.

Next steps: SFPD to provide clarified inventory (quantities and dates), embed links to DGOs/training materials, specify authorized uses for each covered item, and identify independent oversight for AB 481 compliance before the committee takes final action.