Proposal by Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff to acquire and use tasers
BACKGROUND AND HISTORY
Taser is a type of military equipment as defined in California state law (AB 481). AB 481 requires that the governing body, i.e. the Board of Supervisors in the case of county offices, departments, and agencies, to approve each type of military equipment by means of an ordinance before that type of military equipment can be acquired and/or used. AB 481 also stipulates annual reporting requirements.
The Office of the Sheriff currently does not possess tasers. The Sheriff presented his proposal to acquire and use tasers to the Santa Clara County Community Correction and Law Enforcement Monitoring Committee (CCLEM) meeting on August 22, 2023. In the same meeting, the Coalition for Justice and Accountability, Asian Law Alliance, San Jose/Silicon Valley NAACP, and Silicon Valley De-Bug presented their arguments against the use of tasers. Tasers kill! The Committee voted unanimously on the motion to oppose the acquisition and use of tasers.
The subject of taser is agenda item 17 of the Board of Supervisors meeting on May 21, 2024. Click here to see the agenda.
NOTE TO PUBLIC SPEAKERS
If there are 15 or more speakers, i.e. in-person and Zoom altogether, the Board allows only 1 minute per speaker. If there are fewer than 15 speakers, the Board allows 2 minutes per speaker. Please plan accordingly.
In-person speakers should fill out a Request to Speak Form (yellow card).
Zoom speakers should click on the “Raise Hand” button when the agenda item of interest is discussed.
TO LEARN MORE
- Recording of Asian Law Alliance’s forum on taser
2. Recording of Asian Law Alliance’s second forum on taser, held on November 1, 2023