2014-2015 Monterey County Civil Grand Jury Report: OVER-MILITARIZATION OF LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS: MYTH OR FACT?

ABSTRACT: The 2014-2015 Monterey County Civil Grand Jury Report “OVER-MILITARIZATION OF LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS: MYTH OR FACT?” document copy is embedded. FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS and RESPONSES REQUIRED sections are reproduced.

FINDINGS

F1. The Salinas Police Department currently deploys its MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicle on all SWAT operations, and during 2014 it was not used for any rescue, barricade, or hostage situations.

F2. The deployments of the Salinas Police Department’s SWAT team and the Monterey Peninsula Regional SRU (Special Response Unit) appear reasonably limited to potentially dangerous situations.

F3. Monterey Peninsula area and Salinas police departments have received only small numbers of military surplus weapons or equipment from the Department of Defense.

F4. The Del Rey Oaks Police Department has a written policy governing the use and deployment of its MRAP. All deployments will require prior approval by the Chief of Police.

F5. The Del Rey Oaks Police Department is not a member of the Monterey Peninsula Regional SRU, PRVNT (Peninsula Regional Violence NarcoticsTeam), STOPP (Strategic Traffic Observation and Prevention Program), or the County’s Mobile Field Force.

F6. The Del Rey Oaks Police Department’s MRAP is not likely to be requested by other local agencies for anything but a rare prolonged active shooter situation or a catastrophic natural disaster.

F7. Despite its limitations, the Del Rey Oaks Police Department’s MRAP would be more useful if Del Rey Oaks joins the Monterey Peninsula Regional SRU and participates in joint training exercises.

F8. The problems noted in the American Civil Liberties Union’s 2014 report, in which they concluded that American policing has become “unnecessarily and dangerously militarized,” do not appear to be present in the Monterey area police departments reviewed by the MCCGJ or in the Salinas Police Department.

RECOMMENDATION

R1. The MCCGJ recommends that the Del Rey Oaks Police Department become a member of the Monterey Peninsula Regional SRU (Special Response Unit).

RESPONSES REQUIRED

Pursuant to Penal Code Section 933.05, the Grand Jury requests a response as indicated below from the following governing bodies:

Salinas City Council:

• Findings F1, F2, F3, and F8

Del Rey Oaks City Council:

• Findings F4, F5, F6, F7, F8; Recommendation R1

Over Militarization of Local Police Departments 06-01-15 MCCGJ Report

2014-2015 Monterey County Civil Grand Jury Report
OVER-MILITARIZATION OF LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS: MYTH OR FACT?
June 1, 2015
(10 pages)