The Stockton City Council was forced this week to move several items to its next action agenda — including a public hearing on potential approval for new military-grade police equipment — due to a policy that prohibits new business after 11 p.m.
The council convened for more than five hours on Tuesday night, a meeting highlighted by a 3-2 vote against a proposed $825,000 homelessness pilot program that would have to relocate individuals from a large encampment at White Slough to a temporary tent shelter on Calaveras Avenue.
Following the California Legislature’s passage of Assembly Bill 481, which establishes oversight for the responsible use, funding and acquisition of “military equipment,” the Stockton Police Department is seeking 21 drones, two explosive-disarming robots, various forcible entry apparatuses and several de-escalation devices.
Additionally, Stockton police are asking for a mine-resistant ambush protected rescue vehicle, an unmanned aerial system drone and a device meant to beam out extremely high volume sound, commonly known as sound cannons.
AB 481 provides transparency between law enforcement and local governments in California regarding what kinds of equipment police have access to, as well as approval of certain military-grade equipment for safer communications, negotiations and “de-escalation” devices.
The city council’s next regularly scheduled meeting is May 13.