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Lincoln police present annual military-equipment report; council renews ordinance
Summary
Lieutenant Williamson presented the police department's annual military-equipment report, noting zero deployments of military munitions in 2024, 112 drone flights and no complaints. The City Council held the required public hearing and voted to renew Ordinance 1045b as presented.
Lieutenant Williamson of the Lincoln Police Department gave the department's statutorily required annual military-equipment report at the May 27 City Council meeting, and the council voted to renew existing local authorization for the equipment.
Williamson summarized the legal framework and the department's 2024 record, saying the department "did not deploy any military munitions during the calendar year" and that it logged "112 drone flights," with flight times, distances and operators listed in the packet. Williamson also told council there were "no complaints or concerns raised" about the equipment and that no internal violations were found in 2024. Williamson noted procurement complications linked to federal restrictions on some foreign-manufactured drones and said the department was seeking to purchase more U.S.-made systems where possible.
The presentation served as the public hearing required under state law. No members of the public offered testimony during the hearing. After brief council questions about drone procurement costs and the difference between low- and high-end systems, the mayor called for a motion to renew the ordinance authorizing the department's military-grade equipment. Council moved, seconded and approved renewal by roll call.
Why this matters: State law requires a public hearing and annual accounting of law-enforcement military equipment and its use. The review and renewal procedure provides elected officials and residents with a public record of the equipment the department holds, how it was used, and whether complaints or policy violations occurred.
Council recorded unanimous support to renew the ordinance. The department will continue to post its policies and the annual report online as required by the statute cited in the presentation.
