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Table of Contents
History ........................................................................................................................................2
Annual Report Overview .............................................................................................................3
Summary of Military Equipment Usage and Costs ................................................................... 4-5
Summary of Military Equipment Categories ................................................................................ 6
Category 1 ............................................................................................................................ 7-8
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) ................................................................................... 9-19
Robots .......................................................................................................................... 20-25
Category 2 ............................................................................................................................. 26
MRAP Vehicles .............................................................................................................27-29
Category 5 ............................................................................................................................. 30
Mobile Incident Command Vehicles .................................................................................31-33
Category 7 ............................................................................................................................. 34
Battering Rams, Slugs, and Breaching Apparatus (explosive in nature) ......................... 35-38
Category 8 ............................................................................................................................. 39
Firearms of .50 caliber or greater ................................................................................. 40-42
Category 10 ........................................................................................................................... 43
Specialized Firearms and Ammunition of less than .50 caliber ..................................... 44-53
Category 11 ........................................................................................................................... 54
Firearm Accessories Designed to Launch Explosive Projectiles .....................................55-56
Category 12 ...................................................................................................................... 57-58
Distraction Devices | Flash-Bangs ................................................................................59-61
Chemical Agents and Munitions ...................................................................................62-72
Category 14 ......................................................................................................................73-74
40mm Launchers and Munitions .................................................................................. 75-77
Projected Acquisitions for 2025 ................................................................................................. 78
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 79
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HISTORY
On September 30, 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom approved Assembly Bill 481 (AB 481)
which requires California law enforcement agencies to adopt a written Military Equipment Use
Policy prior to the Mayor and City Council (“governing body”) taking certain actions relating to
the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment, as defined within its jurisdiction, if the
equipment meets specified standards.
Read the full bill text at: Bill-Text-AB-481.pdf (salinaspd.org)
A Summary of Bill 481 is below, in which the Legislature found and declared the following:
a) The acquisition of military equipment and its deployment in our communities adversely
impacts the public’s safety and welfare, including increased risk of civilian deaths,
significant risks to civil rights, civil liberties, and physical and psychological well-being, and
increment of significant financial costs. Military equipment is more frequently deployed
in low-income Black and Brown communities, meaning the risks and impacts of police
militarization are experienced most acutely in marginalized communities.
b) The public has a right to know about any funding, acquisition, or use of military
equipment by state or local government officials, as well as a right to participate in any
government agency’s decision to fund, acquire, or use such equipment.
c) Decisions regarding whether and how military equipment is funded, acquired, or used
should give strong consideration to the public’s welfare, safety, civil rights, and civil
liberties, and should be based on meaningful public input.
d) Legally enforceable safeguards, including transparency, oversight, and accountability
measures, must be in place to protect the public’s welfare, safety, civil rights, and civil
liberties before military equipment is funded, acquired, or used.
e) The lack of a public forum to discuss the acquisition of military equipment jeopardizes the
relationship police have with the community, which can be undermined when law
enforcement is seen as an occupying force rather than a public safety service.
To address these concerns, AB 481 requires every law enforcement agency to do the following:
▪ Create a military use policy.
▪ Obtain approval of that policy by each agency’s applicable governing body.
▪ Publish that policy 30 days prior to the above required approval hearing.
▪ Create an Annual Report of each agency’s military equipment use.
▪ Hold a community engagement meeting within 30 days of submitting/publicly releasing
the above Annual Report.
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On August 23, 2022, the Salinas City Council approved an ordinance of the City of Salinas adding
Article III to Chapter 27 of the Salinas Municipal Code pertaining to Salinas Police Department’s
Military Equipment Use Policy in compliance with Assembly Bill 481.
ANNUAL REPORT OVERVIEW
A law enforcement agency that receives approval for a Military Equipment Use Policy is required
to submit to the governing body an Annual Military Equipment Report for each type of military
equipment approved by the governing body within one year of approval and annually thereafter
for as long as the military equipment is available for use.
It is also required that the annual report be made publicly available on the department's website,
and the department will hold at least one well-publicized and conveniently located community
engagement meeting within 30 days of submitting and publicly releasing the Annual Military
Equipment Report.
The Annual Report must contain the following information:
1. A summary of how the equipment was used* and the purpose of its use.
2. A summary of any complaints or concerns from members of the public about the military
equipment.
3. The results of an internal audit, including any information about violations of the military
equipment use policy, and any actions taken in response.
4. The total annual cost for each type of military equipment, including acquisition, personnel, training,
transportation, maintenance, storage, upgrade, and other ongoing expenses; and from what source
funds will be provided for the military equipment in the calendar year following submission of the
annual report.
5. The quantity possessed for each type of military equipment.
6. If the law enforcement agency intends to acquire additional military equipment in the next year**,
and the quantity sought for each type of military equipment.
The following Annual Report outlines a summary of the equipment usage guidelines,
inventory***, fiscal impact, complaints, and reported community concerns (if any) for calendar
year 2024 (January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024).
*Please note that items used during training are not considered “use.”
**Purchases or replacements of equipment are not always predictable.
***Inventory reflected in this report includes all military equipment in SPD’s possession as of December 31, 2024.
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SUMMARY OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT USAGE AND COSTS
Police events and critical incidents are unpredictable and often dynamic. Availability and use of
specific equipment is necessary for incident commanders, officers, and specialized units to
resolve incidents safely and effectively. It is incumbent upon incident commanders, supervisors,
individual officers, and specialized teams to recognize the circumstances wherein equipment
should be deployed and to utilize within the confines of department policy and California state
law. Each use of military equipment is reviewed to ensure it was used properly and justly, based
on the totality of the circumstances, public safety, officer safety, civil rights, state and/or
federal law, and information available at the time of use.
Items used by the Salinas Police Department that are considered military equipment under
Assembly Bill 481 (AB 481) include, but are not limited to, emergency response equipment such
as command vehicles and armored rescue vehicles, precision weapons such as rifles, unmanned
aircraft systems, less lethal munitions, and other select items. The continued access to, and use
of this equipment is vital in ensuring our officers have the appropriate tools necessary to de-
escalate situations, preserve life, ensure safety for all people, and protect civil liberties.
Because the Department’s inventory of military equipment listed in AB 481 fluctuates, for this
report we are reporting inventory as of Dec. 31, 2024. Reasons for fluctuations can be due to a
variety of factors including, but not limited to, operational usage, operational deterioration,
training, maintenance, expiration, and replenishment guidelines.
The AB 481 Annual Report includes total annual cost for each type of military equipment,
including acquisition, personnel, training, transportation, maintenance, storage, upgrade, and
other ongoing costs.
Below is an explanation of the specific annual costs included or excluded within this report:
Acquisition
When inventory indicates multiple items, the most recent per item acquisition cost is listed,
inclusive of sales tax and shipping. If purchased as part of a bundle or combo, that cost is
reported. If equipment acquired in the past lacks readily available purchasing documentation,
the acquisition cost and/or funding source may be reported as unknown. For the purpose of this
report, accessories which are not a required component related to the functioning of AB 481
equipment are not included, such as slings, sights, cases, etc.
Personnel
Due to the size of the Salinas Police Department, the department does not have personnel
dedicated solely to AB 481 equipment. Training is more general in nature and not limited to only
AB 481 items, and staff who maintain this and other equipment do so as an additional
assignment. Given these circumstances, it would be difficult if not impossible to accurately
capture the personnel costs related to AB 481 equipment.
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Training
Expenditures that are specific to AB 481 training equipment, such as training kits for the 40mm
less lethal launchers, are reported.
Transportation
Shipping costs will be included as part of the most recent per item acquisition cost.
Maintenance
Items specific to the maintenance or operation of AB 481 equipment are included in this report.
Examples would be replacement batteries that are required for proper functioning of UAS
(drones) and robots, vehicle maintenance/repair costs, or outside vendor costs necessary to
maintain AB 481 equipment.
Storage
There are no additional storage costs because all AB 481 equipment is stored on-site.
Upgrades
Upgrades that impact the functionality of the equipment, such as new barrels, stocks, etc. will
be reported.
Other Ongoing Costs
Any annual costs not included in the categories above will be reported.
MILITARY EQUIPMENT CATEGORIES
AB 481 created Government Code 7070 which designated 15 categories of items deemed,
“military equipment.” Full text is at Bill-Text-AB-481.pdf (salinaspd.org).
The Salinas Police Department has equipment that meets the criteria of Military Equipment in
nine (9) of the fifteen (15) categories. They include categories 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, and 14
listed in this report.
On the following page, listed is a summary of all fifteen (15) categories, along with the categories
of military equipment utilized by the Salinas Police Department or currently included in its
inventory.
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SUMMARY OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT CATEGORIES
*Category 1:
Unmanned, remotely piloted, powered aerial or ground vehicles
*Category 2:
Mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles or armored
personnel carriers
Category 3:
High mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWV), two-and-
one-half-ton trucks, five-ton trucks, or wheeled vehicles that have a
breaching or entry apparatus attached
Category 4:
Tracked armored vehicles that provide ballistic protection to their
occupants
*Category 5:
Command and Control vehicles that are either built or modified to
facilitate the operational control and direction of public safety units
Category 6:
Weaponized aircraft, vessels, or vehicles of any kind
*Category 7:
Battering rams, slugs, and breaching apparatuses that are explosive in
nature
*Category 8:
Firearms of .50 caliber or greater, excluding standard-issue shotguns
Category 9:
Ammunition of .50 caliber or greater, excluding standard-issue shotgun
ammunition
*Category 10:
Specialized firearms and ammunition of less than .50 caliber, including
assault weapons as defined in sections 30510 and 30515 of the penal
code.
*Category 11:
Any firearm accessory that is designed to launch explosive projectiles
*Category 12:
“Flash-bang” grenades and explosive breaching tools, “tear gas,” and
“pepper balls,” excluding standard, service-issued handheld pepper
spray
Category 13:
TASER Shockwave, microwave weapons, water cannons, and long-
range acoustic devices
*Category 14:
The following projectile launch platforms and their associated
munitions: 40mm projectile launchers, “bean bag,” rubber bullet, and
specialty impact munition (SIM) weapons
Category 15:
Any other equipment as determined by a governing body or a state
agency to require additional oversight
* Indicates a category of military equipment utilized by the Salinas Police Department.
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CATEGORY 1 - Unmanned, Remotely Piloted, Powered Aerial
or Ground Vehicles
Equipment Type
Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) or more commonly known as drones.
Definitive Section: CA Gov’t Code Section 7070(c)(1)
Description and Equipment Capabilities: A UAS is an unmanned, remotely powered aerial
system of any type that can sustain direct flight, whether remotely piloted or via pre-
programing, and all the attached systems are designed for gathering information via
photography, recording, or any other means. Some UAS may be enhanced by Forward Looking
Infrared (FLIR) and optical zoom lenses.
Authorized Use | Purpose: The Salinas Police Department uses unmanned aerial support (aka
drones) of varying sizes and capabilities for law enforcement operations to preserve and
enhance public safety. The UAS can be deployed when an overhead view would assist officers or
incident commanders with planning and responding to situations such as:
▪ Public safety and life preservation missions including – but not limited by – barricaded
suspects, hostage situations, active shooters, apprehension of armed and dangerous
fleeing suspects, and high-risk search warrants
▪ Infrastructure damage assessments
▪ Major traffic collision investigations
▪ Natural disaster management or disaster response and recovery
▪ Crime scene photography
▪ SWAT, tactical or other public safety and life-preservation missions and/or in response
to specific requests from local, state, or federal agencies
▪ Mass casualty events
▪ Search for lost or missing persons or rescue events
▪ Suspected explosive devices
▪ Post-incident crime scene preservation and documentation
▪ Pursuant to a search warrant
▪ When there is probable cause to believe that the UAS will record images of a place, thing,
condition, or event, and that those images tend to show a felony has been committed or
tends to show that a particular person has committed a felony
▪ Anytime a UAS would enhance public safety, improve operational safety, incident
stabilization or incident mitigation as determined by the authorizing person
▪ Anti-UAV operations when a person is operating a UAV in a manner which impedes
emergency personnel who, in the course of their duties, are coping with an emergency
(refer to Penal Code 402(a)(2))
▪ Training missions
▪ Mutual aid support or training missions in support of Salinas Fire Department when
underlying mission meets the uses outlined in policy. Unmanned aerial systems used by
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Salinas Police Department are used in compliance with all federal, state, and local laws
▪ Special events
Applicable Policies for Authorized Use: It is the policy of the Salinas Police Department to utilize
UAS only for official law enforcement purposes and in a manner that respects the privacy of our
community, pursuant to State and Federal law. Applicable department policies include, but are
not limited to, 322 Search and Seizure, 332 Missing Persons, 615 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)
Operations, and FAA Regulation 14 CFR Part 107.
Training Requirements: All Department UAS operators are licensed by the Federal Aviation
Administration for UAS operations or operate as authorized pilots per FAA-issued waivers. In
addition, each operator must attend a 20-hour department training course and ongoing training.
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The Department currently possesses the following UAS:
DJI Mavic Mini
Manufacturer: DJI
Description: This is a battery powered, remotely operated Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) that
can record video and audio with approximately 30 minutes of flight time. The DJI Mavic Mini is
designed to be operated within sight of the operator or a spotter. Each aircraft is equipped with
a camera capable of relaying a real- time image back to the operator.
Manufacturer Description: Weighing under 249 grams, DJI Mini offers a 30-minute flight time,
4km HD video transmission, and a 3-axis gimbal with 2.7K camera. It is almost as light as the
average smartphone. This makes it exceptionally portable and places it in one of the lowest and
safest weight classes of drones.
Capabilities: Fly, hover, broadcast video, record video, photography
Purpose: Provide Aerial Support for L.E. operations
Acquisition Cost
$773.44
Purchased as a combo
Quantity
1
Estimated Lifespan
3-5 Years
Funding Source
General Fund