Why isn’t the SFPD handing over assault weapon records to this group?

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A Quaker group is suing the San Francisco Police Department for failing to provide records of the purchase and deployment of military-style weapons, the group announced on Monday.

On January 26, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) sued the SFPD, alleging that the police department did not provide any records after being requested through the California Public Records Act.

“Bye [SFPD] did not directly deny that he had records relating to [our] request, its undue delay [SFPD] actually unreasonably withheld response notes, ”the complaint says.

The AFSC, which “works for a just, peaceful and sustainable world free of violence, inequality and oppression,” requested data on assault rifles, “less lethal” launchers and ammunition, armored vehicles and other equipment.

John Lindsay-Poland, co-director of the AFSC California Center for Healing Justice, said the lawsuit seeks to prevent violence against black and brown communities, which is permitted by police with access to military gear.

“We hope that this lawsuit and our efforts to increase the transparency and accountability of law enforcement in San Francisco and across the state will help mitigate police harm and violence,” Lindsay-Poland said in a press release.

The lawsuit is also part of an effort to ensure law enforcement complies with AB 481, which sets limits on the acquisition and use of weapons by police departments, requires them to disclose what kind of paramilitary equipment they have and provide rules for the use of that equipment.

The organization said a previous inventory of the SFPD released under state law showed they had several hundred assault rifles.

The organization said the SFPD did not respond to nearly 20 follow-up emails, and four follow-up phone calls saw AFSC staff bounce back and forth between the legal and media departments.

“It is outrageous that San Francisco refused to comply with this request. People have a right to know what weapons the police have and how they used them,” said Jennifer Tu, an AFSC officer.

The AFSC said more than 100 police agencies have so far complied with 350 requests for similar recordings, including the Oakland Police Department, which, according to the complaint, released recordings related to the use of “chemical agents”.

The SFPD has been contacted for comment.

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