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Fresno Police outlines drone, SWAT and less-lethal use in AB 481 report as residents demand more detail
Summary
Fresno Police presented its 2025 AB 481 military-equipment report, which logged 293 drone deployments and reports no unauthorized uses. Residents and advocates pressed for fuller cost reporting, purpose-by-use summaries and clearer drone retention policies; the department scheduled a community meeting March 25 and council consideration March 26.
The Fresno Police Department presented its 2025 annual military equipment use report (AB 481) to the City Council on March 19 and faced sustained questions from residents about transparency, privacy and cost reporting.
Police staff told the council and the public that drones were the most-used equipment category in 2025, with 293 deployments documented across crime scenes, searches, missing-person calls and perimeter support. The department said it decommissioned 38 older drones in 2025 and that many new acquisitions were funded by grants; maintenance-level spending was expected for FY27. Chief Casto (identified in prior council remarks) told the council the department physically…
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