Alameda County holds meeting to discuss fate of Urban Shield program

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- A 19 member task force that is helping determine the future of the Urban Shield SWAT exercises in Alameda County will have to reconvene next month to finish its work.

The task force was supposed to finish its work Friday and submit a series of recommendations to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. But because of the length of debate on amendments and numerous public comments, the task force only votes on a little more than half its recommendations.

RELATED: Urban shield protesters injured after Berkeley city council meeting

The Alameda County Sheriff's Office hosts Urban Shield each year advertised as intense training for first responders and tactical SWAT teams.

Funding is provided by a federal law enforcement grant that requires the training be geared to countering terrorism. But critics like the Stop Urban Shield Coalition claim such training is used to harass people of color and they want it stopped.

RELATED: Protest held against Urban Shield in Alameda County

This year's Urban Shield is set for the weekend of September 8th-11th in Alameda County.