- A CalMatters investigation found that California's public colleges and universities are arming campus police with military-grade equipment, including AR-15-style rifles and stun grenades.
- Many of these institutions are failing to comply with a 2021 state law that requires public oversight and transparency for such equipment, including annual policy approvals, publication of inventories, and public forums.
- The investigation uncovered widespread non-compliance, with many departments only producing required reports after being contacted, omitting key details, or failing to hold public engagement events.
- Student activism has intensified in opposition to campus militarization, successfully preventing the purchase of AR-15s at Mt. San Antonio College and criticizing the use of tuition dollars for military equipment.
- Following the CalMatters inquiry, several colleges, including Compton College, have begun to address their compliance failures by adopting formal policies, holding public meetings, and establishing new oversight measures.
IN FULL
California colleges quietly amassed AR-15s and stun grenades, investigation finds
