SFPD’s 2024 AB 481 report details inventory of tactical equipment and proposed purchases; committee forwards report to full board

The San Francisco Police Department presented its 2024 AB 481 annual equipment report to the Government Audit and Oversight Committee on July 17, detailing the department’s inventory, deployments and planned acquisitions for items governed by state law requiring public reporting.

Captain James Ahearn, who supervises SFPD’s Tactical Unit, and Commander McGuire briefed the committee on the department’s holdings, past-year use and planned purchases. The presentation covered remotely piloted ground vehicles, an armored “Bearcat” command vehicle, breaching tools, “flashbang” diversionary devices, long‑range acoustic devices (LRADs), projectile launchers and an expanded drone fleet.

Key details from the report and testimony - Unmanned remotely piloted ground vehicles: SFPD reported 17 ground robots, with “throw bots” deployed 40 times in 2024 for high‑risk tactical operations and search-warrant service. Maintenance for the robots was reported at a minimal line-item cost in the slides. (Captain Ahearn) - Armored vehicle / Bearcat: SFPD reported a single Lenco Bearcat currently used for high‑risk tactical operations;…