AB 481 – Military Equipment Funding, Acquisition and Use Policy
- On September 30, 2021, Governor Newsom signed AB 481, which directed law enforcement agencies to establish rules for funding, acquiring, and/or using military equipment.
- The full text of AB 481 is available here.
- The Irvine Police Department Annual Report on the Police Use of Military Equipment for the 2025 Reporting Period – Calendar Year 2024 is available here.
Requirements of AB 481
AB 481 requires each law enforcement agency’s governing body to adopt a written military equipment use policy by ordinance in a public forum.
- Irvine Police Department’s Military Equipment Use Policy, Lexipol Policy 707, is available here. The AB 481 defined list of military equipment currently in the Irvine Police Department’s possession is included in the policy, as well as each item’s purpose, authorized use, expected lifespan, and fiscal impact.
- The Irvine Police Department has an established complaint process outlined in Lexipol policy 227.4.2. The policy can be found here.
- The Irvine Police Department will prepare an Annual Report to include the use of military equipment, any complaints received, any internal audits, and other information about violations of the Irvine Police Department’s Military Equipment Use policy. This webpage will distribute any updates to the above materials and the Annual Report.
NOTE: The Irvine Police Department does not possess or utilize any military equipment procured from the United States Department of Defense through the Law Enforcement Support Program (also known as the 1028 or 1033 program).
Public Input Regarding AB 481
As required for transparency, the Irvine Police Department has uploaded Lexipol Policy 707 on this website 30 days before a public meeting to satisfy the requirements of AB 481.