UPDATE 2/26: County Leaders Dump “Urban Shield” Name, Adopt Vast Majority of Committee Recommendations

On January 14, following years of problems with racial profiling, right wing vigilantes, and environmental abuse, the Alameda County Urban Shield Task Force, created by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to "end Urban Shield as it is currently constituted," issued recommendations to transform Urban Shield from a highly militarized SWAT competition and weapons expo into a community-focused safety and resilience exercise.

The recommendations include eliminating military-type SWAT teams and competition from the exercises; eliminating the weapons expo/vendor show component; ensuring that the majority of people implementing exercises are Fire and Emergency Managers and community organizations rather than law enforcement; getting rid of the notorious “Urban Shield” label; evaluating law enforcement participants' compliance with their department's use-of-force policies; and dedicating $5 million of funding for the Health Care Services Agency and Social Services Agency to carry out emergency preparedness training and exercises.

Years of protest, public comment, and politicking have finally created a light at the end of the "Stop Urban Shield" tunnel. Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern and other law enforcement agencies have been lobbying county supervisors and are expected to push back hard when the recommendations come to a vote on Tuesday, February 26. Urban Shield opponents say that a large physical "Stop Urban Shield" presence at the meeting on the 26th is important, but that you can also reach out to Supervisors ahead of time and tell them not to buckle to the pressure.

County Leaders Dump “Urban Shield” Name, Adopt Vast Majority of Committee Recommendations | Alameda County Residents: Tell Your Supervisor to Stop Urban Shield | Urban Shield Fate to be Decided at Alameda County Board of Sups | Urban Shield may end on February 26 .... with your help! | Urban Shield Committee approves recs to exclude SWAT, focus on de-escalation and disaster response | Stopping Urban Shield Is One Step Closer

Related Features: Alameda Sheriff Targets Muslims, Ignores White Supremacists (2018) | Years of Community Pressure Lead to Victory Over Urban Shield Military Cop Convention (2018) | Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Retweets White Supremacist Press Conference (2017) | Police Beat & Arrest Community Members Protesting at Berkeley City Council Meeting (2017) | Activists Lock Down Entrances to Urban Shield Expo on Its 10th Anniversary (2016) | The Struggle Against the Police Militarization of Urban Shield & Bulletproof Warrior (2016)