Select-fire or fully automatic weapons are regulated by California state law and the National Firearms Act. The use of select-fire weapons is prohibited. Select-fire means the weapon is capable of firing more than one round with a single press of the trigger. Additionally, any weapon originally manufactured with select-fire capability is not authorized.
Full-time sworn members of the Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) are exempt from the provisions of this section regarding select-fire weapons. Additionally, full-time sworn members of Narcotics Bureau, Operation Safe Streets Bureau, and Major Crimes Bureau may deploy select-fire Heckler and Koch MP5 sub-machine guns. Sworn reserve personnel are not authorized to deploy select-fire weapons at any time.
Suppressors (silencers) are regulated by California state law and the National Firearms Act. No unit shall deploy a suppressor without first obtaining written approval from the Department rangemaster. Approval will be given or denied on a case-by-case basis.
Unit commanders shall submit their requests to deploy suppressors to the Department rangemaster on an "Office Correspondence" memorandum (SH-AD-32A). The memo shall describe in detail the reasons suppressors are required. A unit order will be created by the specific unit to account for the suppressors and for their safeguarding when not deployed in the field. Authorization to deploy suppressors may be revoked by the Department rangemaster at any time.
Department approved suppressor(s) will be determined by the Senior Department Armorer. Any special muzzle devices required for mounting suppressors will be installed by the Senior Department Armorer. It is the individual unit’s responsibility to maintain, clean, and service the suppressor per the manufacturer’s instructions.
If a patrol rifle is equipped with a suppressor, the operator shall qualify with the suppressor mounted on it. Once a patrol rifle is equipped with a suppressor, it will not be fired without the suppressor attached, absent exigent circumstances.
Full-time sworn members of SEB may deploy suppressors approved by SEB armorers without the approval of the Department rangemaster. Sworn reserve personnel are not authorized to deploy suppressors at any time.
The Department rangemaster, in consultation with the Senior Department Armorer, may authorize sworn full-time members of the Weapons Training Unit to carry and use any firearms, firearms accessory, or related equipment that may be regulated by this and other provisions of Department policy, for the purposes of testing, evaluating, and/or training.
The purchase of any weapon or weapon accessory regulated by California state law and the National Firearms Act (NFA) requires written authorization from the Department rangemaster. Once approval is received, the purchase shall be coordinated through the Biscailuz Center Armory. The weapon or weapon accessory shall initially be delivered to the Biscailuz Center Armory for inspection prior to being issued to any unit. National Firearms Act regulated items include, but are not limited to: short barreled rifles (barrels less than 16”), short barreled shotguns (barrels less than 18”), destructive devices (less lethal/gas launchers greater than .50 caliber, sting ball grenades), and silencers. Any weapon or weapon accessory regulated by California state law and/or the National Firearms Act is purchased by any Department unit, becomes Department property and comes under the control of the Biscailuz Center Armory. These items may be recalled by Biscailuz Center Armory personnel at any time for removal from service or reassignment to another unit.
With the exception of the Senior Department Armorer, no Department member shall make, modify, or convert any weapon causing that weapon to fall under the regulations of the National Firearms Act. The Department rangemaster, Senior Department Armorer, and Biscailuz Center Armory Sergeant are authorized to prepare and sign all Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) forms regarding National Firearms Act weapons and weapons accessories. The Senior Department Armorer or Biscailuz Center Armory Sergeant will file all applicable forms with BATFE prior to making, modifying or converting any weapon into a National Firearms Act regulated item. All BATFE forms associated with any purchase shall be printed and kept on file at the Biscailuz Center Armory.
All provisions of this policy are retroactive and shall apply to all specialized weapons and accessories currently possessed by any unit.