Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Police topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Oxnard council renews authorization for police military equipment, adds less‑lethal launchers and replacement rifles
Summary
The City Council received its annual police military equipment report and approved continued acquisition and funding for certain items, including 40 mm projectile launchers and replacement patrol/SWAT rifles. Staff said the equipment is intended to offer intermediate force options and improve officer and public safety.
The Oxnard City Council on May 20 received the Police Department’s 2024 military‑equipment use report and voted unanimously to renew city authorization for the department’s inventory and ongoing acquisition of specified items.
Chief Jason Benitez, Assistant Chief Rocky Marquez and Special Operations Commander Steve Trickle presented the report and answered questions about use and oversight. The council approved continued authorization, including the planned purchase of additional 40 mm projectile launchers and 24 replacement 2.23‑caliber rifles used by SWAT and patrol units.
City staff emphasized the difference between items defined as “military equipment” in state law and actual Department of Defense hardware. “We do not possess military‑grade type weapons,” Chief Benitez said, adding that most listed items are force‑option tools such as drones, armored rescue vehicles and less‑lethal launchers. Commander Trickle explained that 40 mm launchers provide a longer effective range and a safer standoff for officers than 12‑gauge beanbag shotgun rounds in certain deployment scenarios.
The department reported using armored rescue vehicles to extract civilians and officers in high‑risk situations, and it recorded limited deployments of less‑lethal tools last year. The report also described the department’s review process: supervisors prepare use‑of‑force reports after incidents and professional‑standards and force‑options units review footage, body‑worn camera material and witness statements to ensure policy compliance.
Several members of the public spoke in favor of the department’s equipment and its officers’ work. Councilmembers asked for clarity on drone operations, and Chief Benitez said the city will soon take delivery of newly authorized first‑responder drones and that drones are recorded end‑to‑end to preserve transparency and meet public‑records obligations. The city will include the new drones in next year’s military‑equipment report.
The council voted 7–0 to approve the continuing authorization, noting that funding for most items is from seized assets or department appropriations, not general‑fund taxes.
