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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/20/2023 Item 6b, Scott / Amoroso - Staff Agenda CorrespondenceCity of San Luis Obispo, Council Memorandum City of San Luis Obispo Council Agenda Correspondence DATE: June 20, 2023 TO: Mayor and Council FROM: Rick Scott, Chief of Police Brian Amoroso, Administrative Captain VIA: Derek Johnson, City Manager SUBJECT: ITEM 6B – POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL CRIME REPORT AND MILITARY USE REPORT Staff received the following questions, with staff’s response shown in italics: 1. Some of the equipment that is designated as military equipment may have more standard or routine uses, how does the department distinguish or not the routine use of that equipment versus equipment that does not have the military distinction? All equipment the department uses is subjected to the specific training for that equipment and by department policy. Any time any equipment is used for a use of force, it is reported in detail through the department’s reporting protocols. Military Equipment has received this designation as so per the State. The equipment has and will always be used in a variety of ways according to training and as situations require. Military Equipment is subject to the restrictions in the Council adopted Military Use policy and the annual reporting back to council of its use. 2. Will the department military equipment policy be reevaluated as part of the Police Department strategic plan or is that to be determined based on the consultant’s feedback? All department policies are routinely evaluated based on performance and any after-action reviews. In short, all police policies are “live” and subject to review at any time. Each policy goes through an extensive legal vetting, as well as Lexipol certification, which is our policy vendor. This policy was just built about eight months ago and is performing very well. It was also subjected to rigorous public hearing and Council review before being put into place. There are no plans to review current policies in the strategic plan unless there is an identified nexus to a pillar created in the plan to be operationalized. Item 6b – Police Department Annual Crime Report and Military Use Report Page 2 3. My understanding is that the current policy is to not take any additional military equipment, but to continue to service and supply the existing supply for its lifespan. That includes resupplying the gas munitions for a launcher, but not bringing in a new launcher. Is that an accurate assessment? Military Equipment does not necessarily come from the Military, it is a broad term and definition under state law that is used to describe a range of equipment that may be used by the Police Department. The current equipment is within service life and has already been accounted for in a replacement program (when it needs to be replaced, it will be replaced with a like or similar model). The launcher will eventually have to be replaced at some point. Gas projectiles are examples of consumable items and have to be replaced routinely. Any additional Military Equipment added to Department inventory requires Council approval. We do need an additional drone and some additional small items to improve inventory and response readiness and these items are listed in the annual Military Use report. 4. In the budget discussions, we were looking at the $330k that was allocated to helmets and other equipment in what was supposed to be the additional, additional PERS payment and it was explained that we now need to purchase more equipment that was previously supplied via the military equipment allotments. Please explain as it relates to this report. The current report demonstrates the mandated report to Council of how the equipment was used according to the law. Given the disclosure and approval requirements of Military Equipment, the Department elected to return almost all our equipment to the actual military and those safety items like helmets and replacement costs will fall to the City in the future. This course of action was deemed the most responsible direction even though it does come with a cost. There is no significant increase proposed to our current equipment inventory and all current equipment has been programmed in the current budget to adequality maintain up-to-day safety items.