Firebaugh Municipal Code § 2-4 Law Enforcement

[Ord. # 283, S1 and 2]

The City declares that it desires to qualify to receive aid from the State of California under the provisions of Chapter 1 of Title 4, Part 4 of the California Penal Code. Pursuant to § 13522 of said Chapter 1, the City of Firebaugh will adhere to the standard for recruitment and training established by the California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training.

a. All able bodied persons pursuant to having been duly convicted of public offense may be required to labor every day in every week excepting Sunday and legal holidays.

b. Such labor shall be under the direction and supervision of the Chief of Police, providing, that the actual supervision of such labor may be delegated by the Chief of Police to some other member or members of the police department, and such labor shall be a part of the regular governmental discipline, and shall be applied only to public works, buildings, lands, enterprises and improvements belonging or appertaining to the City.

c. The Chief of Police is authorized to select, each day, from among the persons mentioned in paragraph a such number of them as he shall deem expedient for the labor to be performed upon such day, and cause them to be transported, for such purpose, to any place within or without the City.

d. In the event that the place to which such aforesaid persons are to be transported for the purpose of labor, is too far from the City to conveniently permit them to be returned to the City each day, the Chief of Police may cause to be established and maintained temporary detention camps and other places of confinement at any place where such labor is required to be performed.

[Ord. #90-6, S1]

a. The Chief of Police shall be authorized to collect a booking fee from each person booked into the police department, the Fresno County Jail, or the Mendota Jail pursuant to arrest by any officer. Such fee shall be set forth in a departmental order and shall not exceed the reasonable costs of administration of the booking process.

b. In cases where an amount of bail is fixed by a court, police department or jail booking fees or incarceration booking fees shall be added to the amount fixed by the court for bail of the arrestee, and shall be payable at the time bail is posted or the prisoner is released on his own recognizance.

c. Upon finding of a court that a person arrested and subsequently assessed a booking fee is indigent and therefore lacks funds sufficient to pay such fee in accordance with this section, such fee may be waived by order of the court.

[Added 6-20-2022 by Ord. No. 22-03]

This Ordinance shall be known as the Military Equipment Use Ordinance.

[Added 6-20-2022 by Ord. No. 22-03]

a. Findings. The City Council finds:

1. On September 30, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 481, which codified procedures of funding, acquisition and use of military equipment by law enforcement agencies under Government Code sections 7070 through 7075.

2. Assembly Bill 481 requires law enforcement agencies to obtain approval from the applicable governing body by ordinance adopting a military equipment use policy prior to taking certain actions relating to funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment.

3. Assembly Bill 481 allows a City Council of a City to approve the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment within its jurisdiction only if it makes specified determinations pursuant to Government Code section 7071.

4. Assembly Bill 481 requires law enforcement agencies to annually submit to the applicable governing body a military equipment report for each approved type of military equipment for as long as the military equipment is available for use, and to make each annual report publicly available on its website for as long as the equipment is available for use.

5. Assembly Bill 481 requires a City Council that has adopted an ordinance approving a military equipment use policy to annually review the military equipment report submitted by the law enforcement agency to determine whether each type of military equipment identified in the report continues to comply with the standard of approval.

6. Assembly Bill 481 requires a City Council that has adopted an ordinance approving a military equipment use policy to annually review the ordinance and vote on whether to renew the ordinance at a regular meeting.

7. Policy 708 of the Firebaugh Police Department Policy Manual has been prepared by the Firebaugh Police Department as its proposed military equipment use policy, and it has been published on the Firebaugh Police Department's internet website since May 1, 2022.

8. A duly noticed public hearing was conducted by the City Council at its regular meeting on June 7, 2022, to consider and adopt Policy 708.

b. Determinations. Based on the above-findings and the information provided to the City Council at the public meeting, the City Council determines that Policy 708 of the Firebaugh Police Department Policy Manual complies with standards for approval under Government Code section 7071:

1. The identified military equipment is necessary because there is no reasonable alternative that can achieve the same objective of officer and civilian safety.

2. Policy 708 of the Firebaugh Police Department Policy Manual will safeguard the public's welfare, safety, civil rights, and civil liberties.

3. The purchase and use of the military equipment identified in Exhibit A of Policy 708 is reasonably cost effective compared to available alternatives that can achieve the same objective of officer and civilian safety.

4. All military equipment uses prior to the adoption of Policy 708 of the Firebaugh Police Department Policy Manual complied with applicable Department policy in effect at that time and will continue to conform with future compliance.

5. Policy 708 of the Firebaugh Police Department Policy Manual is approved and adopted.

[Added 6-20-2022 by Ord. No. 22-03]

a. "Military Equipment" includes all of the following (Gov. Code § 7070):

1. Unmanned, remotely piloted, powered aerial or ground vehicles.

2. Mine-resistant ambush-protected ("MRAP") vehicles or armored personnel carriers. However, police versions of standard consumer vehicles are specifically excluded from this subdivision.

3. High mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles ("HMMWV"), commonly referred to as Humvees, 2 1/2-ton trucks, five-ton trucks, or wheeled vehicles that have a breaching or entry apparatus attached. However, unarmored all-terrain vehicles ("ATVs") and motorized dirt bikes are specifically excluded from this subdivision.

4. Tracked armored vehicles that provide ballistic protection to their occupants and utilize a tracked system instead of wheels for forward motion.

5. Command and control vehicles that are either built or modified to facilitate the operational control and direction of public safety units.

6. Weaponized aircraft, vessels, or vehicles of any kind.

7. Battering rams, slugs, and breaching apparatuses that are explosive in nature. However, items designed to remove a lock, such as bolt cutters, or a handheld ram designed to be operated by one person, are specifically excluded from this subdivision.

8. Firearms of .50 caliber or greater. However, standard issue shotguns are specifically excluded from this subdivision.

9. Ammunition of .50 caliber or greater. However, standard issue shotgun ammunition is specifically excluded from this subdivision.

10. Specialized firearms and ammunition of less than .50 caliber, including assault weapons as defined in sections 30510 and 30515 of the Penal Code, with the exception of standard issue service weapons and ammunition of less than .50 caliber that are issued to officers, agents, or employees of a law enforcement agency or a state agency.

11. Any firearm or firearm accessory that is designed to launch explosive projectiles.

12. "Flashbang" grenades and explosive breaching tools, "tear gas," and "pepper balls," excluding standard, service-issued handheld pepper spray.

13. Taser Shockwave, microwave weapons, water cannons, and the Long-Range Acoustic Device ("LRAD").

14. The following projectile launch platforms and their associated munitions: 40mm projectile launchers, "bean bag", rubber bullet, and specialty impact munition ("SIM") weapons.

15. Any other equipment as determined by a governing body or a state agency to require additional oversight.

16. Notwithstanding paragraphs 1 through 15, "Military Equipment" does not include general equipment not designated as prohibited or controlled by the federal Defense Logistics Agency.

b. "City" means any department, agency, bureau, and/or subordinate division of the City of Firebaugh.

c. "Police Department" means any division, section, bureau, employee, volunteer and/or contractor of the Firebaugh Police Department.

d. "City Council" means the governing body that is the Firebaugh City Council.

e. "Military Equipment Use Policy" means a publicly released, written document that includes, at a minimum, all of the following:

1. A description of each type of Military Equipment, the quantity sought, its capabilities, expected lifespan, and product descriptions from the manufacturer of the Military Equipment.

2. The purposes and authorized uses for which the law enforcement agency or the state agency proposes to use each type of Military Equipment.

3. The fiscal impact of each type of Military Equipment, including the initial costs of obtaining the equipment and estimated annual costs of maintaining the equipment.

4. The legal and procedural rules that govern each authorized use.

5. The training, including any course required by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, that must be completed before any officer, agent, or employee of the law enforcement agency or the state agency is allowed to use each specific type of Military Equipment to ensure the full protection of the public's welfare, safety, civil rights, and civil liberties and full adherence to the Military Equipment use policy.

6. The mechanisms to ensure compliance with the Military Equipment use policy, including which independent persons or entities have oversight authority, and, if applicable, what legally enforceable sanctions are put in place for violations of the policy.

7. For a law enforcement agency, the procedures by which members of the public may register complaints or concerns or submit questions about the use of each specific type of Military Equipment, and how the law enforcement agency will ensure that each complaint, concern, or question receives a response in a timely manner.

f. "Exigent Circumstances" means a law enforcement agency's good faith belief that an emergency involving the danger of, or imminent threat of death or serious physical injury to any person is occurring, has occurred, or is about to occur.

g. "State agency" means the law enforcement division of every state office, officer, department, division, bureau, board, and commission or other state body or agency, except those agencies provided for in Article IV (except Section 20 thereof) or Article VI of the California Constitution.

h. "Type" means each item that shares the same manufacturer model number.

[Added 6-20-2022 by Ord. No. 22-03]

a. The Firebaugh Police Department shall obtain approval of the City Council, by an ordinance adopting a Military Equipment Use Policy ("MEUP") at a regular meeting of the City Council held pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5), prior to engaging in any of the following:

1. Requesting Military Equipment made available pursuant to section 2576a of Title 10 of the United States Code.

2. Seeking funds for Military Equipment, including, but not limited to, applying for a grant, soliciting or accepting private, local, state, or federal funds, in-kind donations, or other donations or transfers.

3. Acquiring Military Equipment either permanently or temporarily, including by borrowing or leasing.

4. Collaborating with another law enforcement agency in the deployment or other use of Military Equipment within the territorial jurisdiction of the City of Firebaugh.

5. Using any new or existing Military Equipment for a purpose, in a manner, or by a person not previously approved by the governing body pursuant to this section.

6. Soliciting or responding to a proposal for, or entering into an agreement with, any other person or entity to seek funds for, apply to receive, acquire, use, or collaborate in the use of, Military Equipment.

7. Acquiring Military Equipment through any means not provided by this section.

b. No later than May 1, 2022, if seeking to continue the use of any Military Equipment that was acquired prior to January 1, 2022, the Firebaugh Police Department shall commence a City Council approval process in accordance with this section. If the City Council does not approve the continuing use of Military Equipment, including by adoption pursuant to a Military Equipment Use Policy submitted pursuant to this section, within 180 days of submission of the proposed Military Equipment Use Policy to City Council, the Firebaugh Police Department shall cease its use of the Military Equipment until it receives the approval of City Council in accordance with this section.

c. In seeking the approval of City Council, the Firebaugh Police Department shall submit a proposed Military Equipment Use Policy to City Council and make those documents available on the Police Department's internet website at least 30 days' prior to any public hearing concerning the Military Equipment at issue.

d. The governing body shall consider a proposed Military Equipment Use policy as an agenda item for an open session of a regular meeting and provide for public comment in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5).

e. The governing body shall only approve a Military Equipment Use Policy pursuant to this subsection if it determines all of the following:

1. The Military Equipment is necessary because there is no reasonable alternative that can achieve the same objective of officer and civilian safety.

2. The proposed Military Equipment use policy will safeguard the public's welfare, safety, civil rights, and civil liberties.

3. If purchasing the equipment, the equipment is reasonably cost effective compared to available alternatives that can achieve the same objective of officer and civilian safety.

4. Prior Military Equipment use complied with the Military Equipment Use Policy that was in effect at the time, or if prior uses did not comply with the accompanying Military Equipment Use Policy, corrective action has been taken to remedy nonconforming uses and ensure future compliance.

f. In order to facilitate public participation, any proposed or final Military Equipment Use Policy shall be made publicly available on the internet website of the Police Department for as long as the Military Equipment is available for use.

g. The City Council shall review any ordinance that is has adopted pursuant to this subsection approving the funding, acquisition, or use of Military Equipment at least annually and vote on whether to renew the ordinance at a regular meeting held pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5).

[Added 6-20-2022 by Ord. No. 22-03]

a. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, the Police Department may acquire, borrow and/or use Military Equipment in Exigent Circumstances without following the requirements of this section.

b. If the Police Department acquires, borrows, and/or uses Military Equipment in Exigent Circumstances, in accordance with this section, it must take all of the following actions:

1. Provide written notice of that acquisition or use to the City Council within 30 days following the commencement of such Exigent Circumstance, unless such information is confidential or privileged under local, state or federal law.

2. If it is anticipated that the use will continue beyond the Exigent Circumstance, submit a proposed amended Military Equipment Use Policy to the City Council within 90 days following the borrowing, acquisition and/or use, and receive approval, as applicable, from the City Council.

3. Include the Military Equipment in the Police Department's next annual Military Equipment Report.

[Added 6-20-2022 by Ord. No. 22-03]

a. The Police Department shall submit to City Council an annual Military Equipment Report for each type of Military Equipment approved by the City Council within one year of approval, and annually thereafter for as long as the Military Equipment is available for use.

b. The Police Department shall also make each annual Military Equipment Report required by this section publicly available on its internet website for as long as the Military Equipment is available for use.

c. The annual Military Equipment Report shall, at a minimum, include the following information for the immediately preceding calendar year for each type of Military Equipment:

1. A summary of how the Military Equipment was used and the purpose of its use.

2. A summary of any complaints or concerns received concerning the Military Equipment.

3. The results of any internal audits, any information about violations of the Military Equipment Use Policy, and any actions taken in response.

4. The total annual cost for each type of Military Equipment, including acquisition, personnel, training, transportation, maintenance, storage, upgrade, and other ongoing costs, and from what source funds will be provided for the Military Equipment in the calendar year following submission of the annual Military Equipment Report.

5. The quantity possessed for each type of Military Equipment.

6. If the Police Department intends to acquire additional Military Equipment in the next year, the quantity sought for each type of Military Equipment.

d. Within 30 days of submitting and publicly releasing an annual Military Equipment Report pursuant to this section, the Police Department shall hold at least one well-publicized and conveniently located community engagement meeting, at which the general public may discuss and ask questions regarding the annual Military Equipment report and the law enforcement agency's funding, acquisition, or use of Military Equipment.

e. The City Council shall determine, based on the annual Military Equipment Report submitted pursuant to this subsection, whether each type of Military Equipment identified in that report has complied with the standards for approval set forth in this code and the Military Equipment Use Policy. If the City Council determines that a type of Military Equipment identified in the annual Military Equipment Report has not complied with the standards for approval, the City Council shall either disapprove a renewal of the authorization of or that type of Military Equipment or require modification to the Military Equipment Use Policy in a manner that will resolve the lack of compliance.

[Added 6-20-2022 by Ord. No. 22-03]

a. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this subsection, or any application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions or applications of this subsection.

b. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this subsection and each and every section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, and word not declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any other portion of this subsection or application thereof would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.