Patrol rifles inventory or purchase records (Santa Maria Police Department)

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the California Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

Inventory of patrol rifles (as commonly denominated for law enforcement use) and any other assault rifles (as defined in Sections 30510 and 30515 of the California Penal Code) that are owned by the agency, including: Quantity, make, model, and caliber.

If your agency does not possess records with an inventory of rifles as defined above, then we request purchase records, invoices, procurement documents and other documents sufficient to show the quantity, make, model and caliber of patrol rifles acquired by your agency since 2007.

Discussion: AB 481 required each law enforcement agency in California to post, by May 1st, 2022, inventories and use policies, including quantities, models, and costs, for rifles as defined by Sections 30510 and 30515 of the California Penal Code that the agency owned as of January 1, 2022. In searching your agency’s web site and/or searching the inventory and use policy submitted to the local governing body to comply with AB 481, we were not able to locate this information regarding patrol rifles for your agency. If your agency posted a military equipment inventory that contains this information (quantity, make, model, caliber of patrol rifles), please direct us to a functioning URL with such inventory or provide a copy of that document. We recognize that some agencies consider patrol rifles to be standard issue (and so do not include them in AB 481 policies) and some agencies do not possess patrol rifles (although most do).

We would prefer to receive an inventory of patrol rifles currently possessed by the agency. However, if your agency does not possess an inventory of patrol rifles, we are requesting records with the equivalent information, through purchase records. Other agencies have indicated that such rifles have an expected functional life of between 10 and 20 years, which is why we request such records since 2007 (again, IF the agency does not have records including an inventory of patrol rifles).

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

If you would like to discuss this request, please feel free to reach out to me, John Lindsay-Poland, American Friends Service Committee, at 510-282-8983.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 calendar days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

John Lindsay-Poland

Dear City Clerk staff,

Thanks so much for your help with this request. I really appreciate it.

Sincerely,
John Lindsay-Poland