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Salinas council renews military-equipment ordinance; police seek limited purchases and report little public complaint
Summary
The council on March 25 renewed Ordinance 2657 (AB 481 compliance) and authorized modest purchases for less-lethal ammunition and rifle replenishment; department reported usage counts for drones, armored vehicles and less-lethal munitions with no complaints.
The Salinas City Council voted March 25 to renew Ordinance No. 2657, the city—s military-equipment-use policy adopted under California Assembly Bill 481, and authorized limited purchases and replenishment of equipment and munitions not to exceed $66,056.91.
Chief of Police Carlos Acosta presented the department—s 2024 AB 481 annual report and described authorized uses and 2024 usage counts for categories that include unmanned aerial systems (drones), remote ground robots, tactical armored rescue vehicles, mobile command vehicles, distraction devices and less-lethal 40-millimeter projectiles.
Chief Acosta told the council the department logged 358 authorized unmanned aerial-system deployments in 2024 and used two remote ground robots. The department recorded 21 authorized uses of its two armored rescue vehicles and reported 15 uses of diversionary "distraction devices" (often called flash-bangs). The department recorded 14 authorized uses of its 40-millimeter less-lethal launchers and reported zero unauthorized uses or public complaints across the listed categories during 2024.
The department recommended and the council approved authorization to purchase: precision rifle ammunition, replenishment for .308/.338 supplies that had been used in training and deployments; 40mm sponge and practice rounds; pepper-ball projectiles; and related equipment, at a combined maximum cost not to exceed $66,056.91. Chief Acosta said some purchases are replacements for items already used or expended in the field and that much of the department—s specialty equipment had been acquired in prior years.
Public commenters at the hearing praised the department—s steps to buy less-lethal options and urged continued training and mental-health partnerships. A public speaker who identified herself as a community advocate said the less-lethal options "are very important" because they can reduce lethal outcomes; several commenters asked that tactical units receive crisis-intervention training. The department said a large share of sworn staff have Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training and that specialized tactical officers undergo more frequent and advanced certification.
Council discussion focused on training, mutual-aid arrangements and whether any of the listed items had been the subject of complaints. Officials and the department said that, for 2024, the department had received no documented unauthorized uses or complaints for the equipment listed in the report.
Council action: The council voted unanimously to renew Ordinance No. 2657 and to authorize purchases described in the staff recommendation, with a fiscal limit not to exceed $66,056.91. The motion passed with all members recorded as yes.
Ending: The department said it will continue to document deployments and return with required annual reporting; staff and councilors emphasized de-escalation training and interagency coordination as ongoing priorities.
