Ridgecrest council hears annual military-equipment report; approves continued use and training

The Ridgecrest City Council on Wednesday approved the police department's annual Assembly Bill 481 military-equipment use report, a presentation by the police chief describing current and planned gear, training and related costs.

Under AB 481, local agencies must disclose acquisition, use and policy for listed equipment. “The Government of California listed several items as military equipment and required us to confer with the council and get these items approved for purchase, use and advise of the ongoing costs of these things,” the chief said during the presentation.

The chief listed active items and recent changes: the department’s armored rescue vehicle (Bearcat) has been deployed 17 times (about half for community events and the remainder for crisis-response or warrant operations); 30 shotguns were converted from lethal ammunition to beanbag-launching less-lethal shotguns (painted orange to distinguish them); the department used about 15,000 rounds of ammunition for training in 2024; and two interior drones were acquired last year. The department also reported purchases and expenses including roughly $13,000 to convert shotguns, about $7,000 for training ammunition, about $1,600 for beanbag and 40mm less-lethal rounds, and about $4,300 for light-sound diversionary devices; a $94,000 purchase for 33 patrol rifles plus one precision rifle was approved earlier in the year and expected to arrive within roughly 60 days.

The chief said the department will phase in exterior drones this year, train pilots under the FAA Part 107 program and coordinate operations near Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake to stay within applicable ceilings and notify base tower when operations take place. He described exterior drones as a “force multiplier” for searches, vehicle pursuits that end offroad and tactical operations, and said training emphasizes safe vertical launches and collision-avoidance systems.

Council members asked about drone risks near power lines and the base and about how less-lethal munitions affect people. The chief said exterior drones include collision avoidance, that operations generally ascend to elevation before maneuvering, and that the 40mm “sponge” and “super sock” less-lethal rounds are intended to inflict pain and encourage compliance, not penetrate; they can bruise and, rarely, break skin, but significant injuries such as broken bones would be “completely out of the ordinary.”

The presentation included a line-item summary of planned maintenance and recurring costs: the department budgets about $20,000 a year for Bearcat wheels and tires, and noted that wheels are expensive and may be replaced rather than disassembled; the department also budgeted for future chemical agent training and potential purchases that would appear in next year’s report. The chief said officers who carry rifles complete a 24‑hour POST-approved rifle course.

After council questions and public comment acknowledging support for properly equipping police, the council voted 5-0 to accept the report and continue the department’s equipment program as described.

The council action does not change policy beyond accepting the report and recording the equipment and costs in the public record; future purchases of items on AB 481’s list would return to council for approval as required by state law.