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Council receives police military‑equipment report; department seeks approval to acquire non‑lethal launchers
Summary
The Redding Police Department presented its annual Assembly Bill 481 report listing equipment categories designated as 'military equipment,' and the council accepted the report; the department also sought authorization to pursue acquiring additional less‑lethal launchers.
The Redding Police Department presented its annual report under Assembly Bill 481 summarizing equipment defined by the state as “military equipment,” including an armored rescue vehicle (BearCat), a mobile command center, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and specialty tools used by the SWAT team.
Why it matters: AB 481 requires law enforcement agencies to report categories of equipment to the governing body, hold a public meeting and adopt a local policy for the use of such equipment. The law intends to increase transparency and provide public oversight.
Presentation highlights: Captain Chris Smyrnaus (captain) listed the department’s inventory and reported deployment counts for the past year: the BearCat saw multiple patrol deployments and one SWAT operation; the mobile command center supported public events; and UAVs were deployed in patrol and collision investigations. Smyrnaus said most items are used by the SWAT unit and are subject to existing department policies and state law.
Acquisition request: The department requested council authorization to acquire up to eight additional 40mm kinetic‑energy launcher systems (less‑than‑lethal launchers) to expand availability to patrol officers. Council was not asked to appropriate funding at this meeting; Smyrnaus said purchase funding would follow separate budget or grant procedures.
Public comment: Two members of the public spoke about concerns that certain non‑lethal launchers are produced and marketed to militaries overseas and asked the council to reject acquisition while conflicts abroad continue. Council members noted those concerns and discussed procedural constraints and the department’s training and use‑of‑force policies.
Action: Council accepted the report and the departmental policy as required by AB 481 and voted to allow the department to pursue acquisition authorization for additional launchers; the report acceptance passed unanimously.
Attribution: Comments and inventory details in this summary are attributed to Captain Chris Smyrnaus and to members of the public who commented on the item.
Ending: The acceptance of the annual military‑equipment report fulfills the reporting requirement under state law; purchases of equipment will require later funding approvals and must comply with the department’s AB 481 policy.
