One of the topics at the upcoming Regents meeting this week is a requirement that police departments, including at UC, disclose any military equipment they use persuant to AB 481. The various campus departments all seem to use "Def-Tec eXact Impact 40mm munitions," shown in the illustration and generally described as less-than-lethal weapons:
The 40mm eXact iMpact™ Sponge Round is a “point-of-aim, point-of-impact” direct fire round that is most commonly used by tactical teams in situations where maximum deliverable energy is desired for the incapacitation of an aggressive, non-compliant subject. In many municipalities, these are being selected for both tactical call outs and as an available option for patrol.
The 40mm eXact iMpact™ Sponge Round is intended for direct fire deployment. The operator should be adequately trained in the use of Less Lethal Impact Munitions and have a thorough understanding of the round and considerations for selecting shot placement such as level of threat, target distance, size and clothing.
The 40mm eXact iMpact™ Sponge Round will prove most successful for incapacitation when used within its optimal energy range of approximately 5 – 40 meters, although it may used in situations from 2 – 50 meters. The optimal zone offers the necessary energy and accuracy to target the large muscle groups of the buttocks, thigh, and even the knees of the subject.
These areas provide sufficient pain stimulus, while greatly reducing serious or life-threatening injuries.
The 40mm eXact iMpact™ Sponge Round can also be deployed in crowd control situations to protect the riot line, cover or enhance chemical munitions, or targeting specific agitators and organizers of the crowd. When used in this fashion, it is primarily both a psychological deterrent and physiological distraction serving as a pain compliance device to either get the crowd or subject moving or keeping them at a designated distance...
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The official report also indicates an interest in robots for potential bomb situations and drones:
Request For Category 1 - Unmanned, Remotely Piloted, Powered Aerial or Ground Vehicles—The Use of Drones by University of California Police Departments
(a) UCB is requesting to purchase a second hazardous devices robot to update their current technology and prepare for any potential failures of the existing robot that is 20 years old.
(b) UCB, UCLA, UCSC and UCSF, collectively UCPD are requesting to purchase drones. In 2023, UCD and UCSC were approved to purchase this equipment to research its use under existing UC guidelines. UCD purchased two and UCSC did not make any purchases. UCD did not operate the equipment during the year.
Source: https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/regmeet/sept24/c1attach2.pdf and https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/regmeet/sept24/c1.pdf.
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