by Garth Meyer
The Redondo Beach city council Aug. 2 approved the use of certain military-grade equipment by the Redondo Beach Police Department.
The list includes an armored vehicle, explosive breaching apparatuses, flashbangs, tear gas, 40 mm less-lethal projectile launchers (bean bags, rubber bullets) and a .50 caliber rifle.
“I view all of these as life saving tools,” said Police Chief Joe Hoffman.
In testimony before the council’s vote, the chief called for approval, not only for his own department, but so other departments assisting in Redondo Beach would be cleared to use their own equipment of this type.
The chief, a former RBPD S.W.A.T. team member, spoke from experience about some of the equipment.
“.50 caliber seems crazy,” a resident stated during public comments.
“It may be the only effective option for stopping a vehicle,” the chief said of the long-distance sniper rifle. “Or a boat several hundred yards offshore. It would only be in the most extreme of circumstances.”
The chief added that, as far as he knows, in his 28 years with the Redondo Beach Police Department, a .50 caliber has never been used.
The council voted 4-0 to approve the use of the equipment. Councilman Todd Loewenstein was absent.
The city council was required to sign off on the list of military-grade items to comply with a state law signed by Gov. Newsom last September. ER
