Investigation Reveals California Colleges’ Non-Compliance with Police Military Equipment Transparency Law

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, July 9, 2026

California public college police departments possess various military-grade equipment, including rifles and sonic devices, but many have failed to fully comply with a state law requiring transparent reporting of such gear. This lapse in disclosure hampers public oversight and raises concerns about inconsistent enforcement of accountability measures across campuses.

Police departments at California’s public colleges and universities possess a range of military-style equipment, including rifles, flash grenades, and sonic devices capable of projecting voice commands across long distances, but many institutions have failed to comply with a state transparency law designed to provide public oversight. An investigation spanning all 148 campuses within the University of California system found that several schools either delayed or neglected to update and publish mandatory reports detailing their military equipment inventories and usage policies until prompted by media inquiries.

The transparency mandate, enacted by California lawmakers in 2021 amid national calls for greater accountability of law enforcement agencies, requires public college police departments to disclose the types of military gear they possess, explain how the equipment is deployed, and offer opportunities for community input.

Among the notable items reported is the Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) maintained by UCLA police. This device, often referred to by its military nickname, the “Voice of God,” is capable of broadcasting voice commands over extended distances, primarily for use in crowd control situations during demonstrations or emergencies.

Several campuses reported possessing AR-15-style rifles, including San Jose State University and San Francisco State University. This is significant because the California State University system’s overarching military equipment policy does not specifically authorize the use of such rifles. In addition to rifles, San Jose State’s police department inventory features tear gas grenades and a submachine gun. Campus officials at San Jose State noted that while these items remain listed in their arsenal, there is no current intention to deploy them.

The investigation underscores ongoing challenges in ensuring full compliance with the state’s transparency law, highlighting inconsistencies in reporting practices among California’s higher education institutions. Advocates for accountability emphasize the importance of consistent disclosure to allow public scrutiny of law enforcement tactics on college campuses, while some university officials point to the complexity of managing detailed equipment inventories and policies across diverse campuses.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.