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Police present 2024 military equipment report; council introduces ordinance to renew policy
Summary
Manhattan Beach Police presented the 2024 military equipment use report under CA Government Code; staff reported drone deployments, limited regional BearCat use, two flashbangs in one warrant, and requested authority to pursue further equipment purchases subject to budget and procurement. Council introduced the renewal ordinance and vote passed 5–0.
The Manhattan Beach Police Department presented its 2024 military equipment report and asked council to introduce an ordinance renewing the city’s military equipment policy as required by state law.
Lieutenant Kelly Benjamin summarized the department’s 2024 use: two drones purchased with prior council approval were deployed 16 times for incidents and 11 times for training; the regional BearCat vehicle was used sparingly; a SWAT warrant involved two flashbang devices; rifles were used for training; and vehicle upgrades and training costs totaled $46,718.75 in 2024. No complaints about equipment use were reported in the year covered by the report, Lt. Benjamin told the council.
Staff also sought pre‑authorization to pursue several 2025 equipment purchases (replacement patrol rifles, additional drones, pepper‑ball systems for a mobile field force, and sniper rifles for newly assigned team members), with any actual purchase subject to the city’s budget and procurement process.
Council introduced ordinance 25‑0007 to renew the city’s military equipment use policy under state requirements and the motion to introduce the ordinance passed unanimously.
What happens next: Introduction of the ordinance starts the formal process; purchases requested for 2025 would still require budget approval and individual purchasing actions.
Speakers and excerpts are drawn from the public hearing transcript.
