HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/2/2025 Item 6c, Grady
John Grady <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:City Council meeting : consent agenda item 6C - 09.02.2025
Dear Mayor and City Council Members,
I share similar concerns as those expressed by Allan Cooper regarding your inclusion of item 6C on the Consent Agenda
for your city council meeting this Sept. 2, 2025.
This item, Resolution 2024-AB-48, states (among other things):
WHEREAS, on September 2, 2025, the City Council received the 2024 Military Equipment Use Annual Report,
reviewed Policy No. 707, and determined that each type of military equipment identified in the report has complied
with all of the standards set forth in Government Code Section 7071(e)(1-2);
Since you are first receiving the 2024 Military Equipment Use Annual Report at this Sept. 2, 2025 Council Meeting, I
believe this report should be presented in detail by Police Chief Scott (or a PD representative) so residents of SLO are
made aware of its important details and can hear your discussion regarding its compliance with the standards set forth in
Government Code Section 7071(e)(1-2). Having this report buried in the consent agenda lacks transparency.
This resolution also states:
WHEREAS, the Police Department seeks authorization from the City Council for use of new or additional military
equipment as identified on pages 7-8 the 2024 Military Equipment Use Annual Report.
The new military equipment desired is listed in a 70 page report attached online with 5 other documents related to this
consent agenda item. In total, there are nearly 150 pages in these online documents as part of this consent agenda item.
How many people would ever find the time or perhaps have the wherewithal to delve into all of these online documents -
especially for a consent item?
Given the dire and tense conditions we now find our country in, with the Federal Government sending armed, masked
agents (and U.S. armed forces) onto our streets, arresting tens of thousands people with questionable cause, often with
little or no due process, any discussion of past and future utilization of military equipment by our SLO Police Department
deserves a thorough and in depth hearing open to the public.
I am not taking a position as to whether or not our Police Department should be allowed to acquire the requested military
weaponry. I am however very concerned with the lack of discussion and transparency regarding this matter.
The residents of our city would greatly benefit by a full and open presentation of the 70 page Annual Police Department
Report, the 26 page Police Department's Military Use Policy Report, and learning of the rationale for the new military
equipment being requested. This would allow for public comment and Council discussion.
This would benefit both the police department and the residents of SLO and further the mission of SLOPD of "working in
partnership with the community".
Thank you.
John Grady
San Luis Obispo
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