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Council renews SDPD's AB 481 equipment list; police cite rescues and de-escalation uses
Summary
The council approved renewal of San Diego Police Department's AB 481 military-equipment certification and related use procedures, after SDPD leaders described the inventory (armored vehicles, drones, robots, LRAD, less-lethal munitions) and said equipment is used for de-escalation, rescues and high-risk warrants; the measure passed 6-2.
The San Diego City Council on June 24 renewed certification under Assembly Bill 481 for the San Diego Police Department's list of military-style equipment and updated use procedures after hearing a detailed presentation from SDPD special-operations leaders.
Captain Anthony Dupree and SWAT subject-matter experts described equipment currently in SDPD's inventory: mobile command vehicles, two armored rescue vehicles, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS/drones), tracked robots, department rifles, less-lethal systems (40mm launchers, pepperball launchers, beanbag shotguns), flashbangs, LRAD (long-range acoustic devices), breaching equipment (including explosive breaching capability used in limited circumstances), and night-vision optics. Presenters emphasized that the department has not relied on the federal 1033 surplus-equipment program recently and that inventory items are commercially manufactured.
Officers said the equipment is restricted by policy (for example, certain less-lethal munitions and beanbag shotguns are limited to SWAT or specially trained personnel), is intended to preserve life and enhance stand-off capabilities, and is subject to annual requalification training. The department gave examples of operations where equipment supported safe resolutions: a May 2024 code-12 emergency response where robots, armored vehicles and flash-bang devices helped resolve an armed, barricaded subject without injuries, and a high-risk warrant in City Heights in June 2024 where UAS and robots assisted clearing and custody operations.
Public comment included calls for committee review, more transparency and limits on use for crowd control, and endorsements from residents who cited SDPD support during local demonstrations. Several councilmembers noted the department's emphasis on training and that the city's policy precludes certain uses in crowd-control contexts. The council approved certification and the equipment list on a 6-2 vote; Councilmembers Foster and Elo/Ilo Rivera voted no.
