Sunnyvale DPS reports zero complaints, lists deployments and inventory in AB 481 annual report

Patrol Captain Jeremy Lima of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety presented the department's annual military equipment report under California Assembly Bill 481 and said the department received "0 complaints or concerns from the community." The report lists deployments, an inventory of equipment and planned like-for-like replacements.

The report, covering Jan. 1'Dec. 31, 2025, showed a total annual cost for military equipment of $98,642, which Lima said represented about 0.09% of the department's operating budget. Lima also said DPS conducted an internal audit led by the SWAT team and concluded the department is in compliance with AB 481.

The city adopted the local policy governing military equipment via Ordinance 3191-22 (Policy 705) on April 5, 2022, and, according to Lima, the council reviewed and approved the department's most recent report and ordinance on June 2, 2026. Under AB 481, the council must review the report and determine whether the department's use complied with policy and whether the ordinance and policy should be continued, modified or repealed.

Lima provided counts of deployments and inventory. He said the department deployed its Bearcat armored rescue vehicle 12 times in 2025, including six mutual-aid requests, largely for violent-incidence responses such as murder, assault with a deadly weapon and barricaded subjects. "In summary, there were 12 Bearcat deployments, which included 6 mutual aid requests," he said.

Lima reported five deployments of noise flash diversionary devices (flashbangs) used against wanted or violent suspects and said the department used unmanned aircraft systems (drones) 30 times in 2025: 21 for suspect-related operations, 2 for search-and-rescue and 7 for training and demonstrations. "Overall, we had 30 deployments," he said.

Inventory items Lima listed included nine pepperball launchers (one for training), 38 less-lethal launchers, two kinetic launchers, 191 flashbangs, 133 units of CS gas, more than 2,900 feet of detonation cord for breaching, four SWAT robots, one armored rescue vehicle, one mobile command vehicle, 24 SWAT rifles, 10 sniper rifles and four drones.

For 2025 procurement Lima said DPS replenished 139 flashbangs, replenished 143 units of tear gas and purchased one like-for-like replacement iCore SWAT robot. Projected 2026 purchases described in the presentation were primarily replenishments: about 121 flashbangs, 70 rounds of tear gas, a replacement Bearcat armored rescue vehicle, one replacement drone and four sniper rifles.

Lima closed by reiterating that the report is intended to provide transparency and create a forum for community feedback; he offered to answer questions but said there were no attendees in person or virtual who asked questions at the meeting.

The presentation and supporting slides were attached to the DPS web page on the city website, according to Lima. The council review is the next formal oversight step under AB 481 and the local policy adopted by Ordinance 3191-22.