How student journalists can investigate guns on campus

from Phoebe HussCalMatters

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

Did you know that police tools like less-lethal weapons, drones with cameras and non-standard semi-automatic rifles are subject to public oversight in California, even for college and university police departments?

In fact, according to state law, the only way a law enforcement agency can use it military equipment is after a governing body decides – in a public meeting – that there is no other reasonable way to maintain public safety. That requirement, along with strict transparency rules, went into effect in 2022 after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 481.

CalMatters is investigating whether this transparency law has been followed by the police in the three public higher education systems in the country. The results showed that while some colleges are clear about what equipment they have and how often they use it, others lack key documents detailing their arsenal.

Student reporters can use these guidelines to take the next step: Reporting on how transparent your campus is about military equipment.

If your school’s police department or local police department, if your college has a law enforcement contract, has a website, that’s a great place to start. See if there is a section labeled “Transparency,” “Reports,” “Military Equipment,” or “Bill 481.” Check for two important documents:

1. Annual report on military equipment
2. Military Equipment Use Policy

Colleges are required to post both documents online if campus police use either 15 types of military equipment described in AB 481. The annual report must contain an up-to-date inventory, a summary of when the equipment was used that year, and a record of any complaints filed. The policy should describe the equipment in more detail, including any authorized circumstances of when police can use the items, how much they cost and what training is required to use them.

These two documents must be reviewed annually by the governing body that oversees the police department, which is the Board of Trustees for the California State University System, the Board of Regents for the California University System, and individual district or college boards for the California Community Colleges.

After searching for these documents, here are the main questions we asked during our investigation, and the questions we recommend student reporters start with when reporting on military hardware transparency on their own campus:

1. Are these documents publicly available?

Missing the annual report and policy or not posting them online violates state law.

If you cannot find the documents online and believe that your campus police may still be using military equipment, you can request the report and policy directly from the department. Campus police officers may try to direct you to file a request under the California Public Records Act, in which case you can remind them that state law requires the records to be made public.

2. Have these documents been properly reviewed in the last year?

Failure to review the policy annually or doing so privately instead of publicly violates state law.

Not only must the report and policy be posted online, the campus police department’s governing body must review and approve the policy at a public meeting, with an opportunity for public comment, at least once a year. The police department must also send the report to this governing body every year. Equipment can only be approved if it meets the requirements certain criteria.

Archived meeting agendas and minutes should include a policy review at least annually. If they don’t, you can ask the governing body about it.

3. Are the documents complete?

Listing incomplete information in the policy or report violates state law.

AB 481 sets forth strict requirements for what report and policy must contain at least According to the CalMatters analysis, many of the 2025 reports lack inventory quantities, annual costs and the goal of equipment deployment. Many policies lack manufacturer descriptions, purpose, training requirements, and grievance procedures.

Another factor to check is whether all types of equipment documented in the report are also listed in the policy. Any discrepancy should be addressed.

4. Does the campus police hold an annual community engagement meeting?

Failure to hold an annual public forum or properly post it violates state law.

Within 30 days of the public release of the annual report, campus police are required by law to host a public forum for the general public to discuss and ask questions about the equipment. This should be a conveniently located and well advertised event.

If it’s not described on the police department’s website or social media accounts, you can ask them directly if they held a meeting, how they publicized it, and what the turnout was. Fact-check any claims they make about publicizing the meeting by looking for direct evidence. You can also keep an eye out for the next meeting.

5. What do students and teachers think about military equipment?

This is where your campus-specific experience comes in.

Have students or faculty expressed strong opinions for or against military hardware at the annual forum or meetings when policies are approved?

Are there faculty at your school who research military technique or police transparency?

Did any student clubs take positions on military equipment or lead movements for or against it, such as the UCLA and Mt. San Antonio College?

If the annual report lists incidents or events where equipment was used, find out if the students were there and what they thought about it.

If your student news organization reports on military equipment on your campus using our guide, please let us know. We’ll add a link to your story here for others to see. Email the College Journalism Network at cjn@calmatters.org.

Phoebe Huss is a contributor to the College Journalism Network, a collaboration between CalMatters and student journalists from across California. CalMatters Higher Education Coverage is supported by a grant from the College Futures Foundation.

This article was originally published on CalMatters and is republished under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivatives license.