California colleges forced to disclose armories some have military-grade weapons including the Voice of God

Military-style rifles, flash grenades and even powerful sonic devices nicknamed the “Voice of God” are among the weapons owned by police departments at California’s public colleges and universities.An investigation found schools have failed to comply with a state transparency law requiring them to disclose what they own, how the equipment is used, and to give the public an opportunity to weigh in.CalMatters reviewed records from all 148 University of California institutions and found several campuses only updated or published required reports after being contacted by reporters.Lawmakers approved the military equipment transparency law in 2021 following nationwide calls for greater oversight of police departments.Under the law, campus police can only acquire military equipment if officials determine there is no reasonable alternative for protecting public safety.Schools are also required to publish annual inventories, disclose how often the equipment is used, and hold public meetings where students and community members can ask questions or voice concerns. According to CalMatters, compliance has been uneven.Some colleges had not posted required inventories online, while others omitted details required by law, including the quantity of equipment or manufacturer descriptions.Several campuses also acknowledged they either had not held the required public forums or could not demonstrate how those meetings had been publicized. The investigation also found inconsistencies over which weapons should be disclosed.San Jose State University and San Francisco State University reported owning AR-15-style rifles, even though California State University’s systemwide military equipment policy does not specifically authorize them.Cal State spokesperson Amy Bentley-Smith told CalMatters the rifles are considered standard-issue weapons and therefore exempt from certain reporting requirements, though San Jose State’s own report categorized them as specialized firearms. One ...