Bill Watch

Gov. Brown Shoots Down Bill to Increase Accountability Around Police Acquisition of Military Gear

Photo of MRAP Vehicle by Staff Sgt. Jason Staled, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Taylor Walker
Written by Taylor Walker

On Thursday, California Governor Jerry Brown vetoed AB 3131, a bill to increase transparency around law enforcement agencies’ acquisition of military-grade gear.

Through the nation’s Law Enforcement Support Office program (LESO), also known as the 1033 program, police agencies receive surplus military gear for free. In 2017 alone, law enforcement agencies received $504 million worth of military gear.

The matter of law enforcement agencies accepting excess military items from the federal government became a controversial topic in recent years after school police began acquiring grenade launchers, and police agencies across the nation started serving search warrants using 20 ft. long, 14-ton, steel-plated, mine-resistant, and ambush proof vehicles—MRAPs.

But not all the surplus gear is comprised of riot gear, weapons, and armored vehicles, cash-strapped police agencies also receive things like office supplies and rescue tools.

AB 3131, by Assemblymembers Todd Gloria (D-San Diego) and David Chiu (D-San Francisco), would have required law enforcement agencies to create a use policy before requesting, purchasing, or deploying military equipment. The bill would have also required departments to produce annual reports on their acquisition and use of the gear.

The bill was watered down from its original form, which would have required police agencies to get approval from their local governing body (board of supervisors, city council, etc.) during a public hearing before taking possession of military-grade gear.

“Law enforcement, government, and the public are the foundation of every community. All of us have to work together and that’s ultimately what this bill seeks to accomplish,” said Assemblymember Todd Gloria. “AB 3131 is about building trust between police and the people they are sworn to protect. If law enforcement agencies want to arm themselves with military-grade equipment, I believe the public has a right-to-know. Adding this layer of transparency and engagement with the public acknowledges that police and the public are our partners in creating safe and liveable neighborhoods.”

In his veto message, Governor Brown criticized the bill’s “overbroad” list of “military” items, which Brown said “not only includes items that are clearly ‘militaristic in style,’ but many that are commonly used by law enforcement and do not merit additional barriers to their acquisition.”

The list of items included armored vehicles, weaponized aircraft, battering rams, assault weapons, firearms of .50 caliber or greater, explosives, guns that shoot projectiles, riot gear, and more.

“In my view this bill creates an unnecessary bureaucratic hurdle without commensurate public benefit, and I cannot sign it,” Brown said.


Photo of MRAP Vehicle by Staff Sgt. Jason Staled, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

5 Comments

  • I did time in the U.S. military, and I don’t see anything in the picture that comes even remotely close to anything I had when in military service.

    The point of the picture?

  • Editor’s Note:

    Dear Cognistator,

    You’re quite right about the photo. Thanks for the good catch. Now we have a photo of a very nice MRAP vehicle to replace it!

    C.

  • Perfect pic Celeste!!! There is no other vehicle I would want my family hiding behind during an Active Shooter incident.

    My wife loves the picture too!! She said she wants me to hop into one while responding to critical incidents that are likely to turn into a 998.

    Thanks Celeste!!!!

  • I would like to buy one from excess property from the military. I could drive it in the carpool lane and run over the slow Prius drivers. Nothing says get out of my way better than an armored military vehicle.

    As for OWNERSHIP – right on. My wife says the same thing.

  • Aren’t these same type of “intimidating militiristic” vehicles often used by police departments to better respond to natural disasters such as floods due to there high ground clearance? Any tools the military uses and tests under battle conditions that can in turn help protect a police officer under dangerous conditions gets my nod of approval.

    Some people just hate the police so much, want to hurt and kill them (even relish when one is killed) and believe their job is to allow themselves to be hurt.

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