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Oceanside police present AB 41 military-equipment inventory; public raises disclosure and health concerns
Summary
Assistant Police Chief John McKeon presented the city's annual AB 41 military-equipment use policy and inventory, reporting drone, armored vehicle and limited less‑lethal deployments; public commenters expressed concern that mandated public disclosure could put officers or seniors at risk.
Assistant Police Chief John McKeon presented the Oceanside Police Department’s annual military-equipment report June 17 as required by Assembly Bill 41, covering the reporting period July 1, 2025 through June 17, 2026. McKeon said the department is not requesting new equipment in the presentation but plans to request two additional drones in the next budget cycle for a drone-as-first-responder program.
McKeon summarized inventory and use: 16 unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in the inventory with roughly six to seven regularly used; increased flight hours due to the drone-first-responder program; 32 deployments of the department’s Bearcat armored vehicle (primarily for preplanned SWAT warrants); crisis-negotiator and mobile command vehicles used intermittently; and limited less‑lethal deployments (pepper‑ball twice, less‑lethal shotguns three times, a 40mm sponge round once). He reported no internal or external complaints of equipment use during the period and said each deployment triggers an internal review process.
Public commenters raised objections to AB 41’s mandatory disclosure. Mary Davis said the law effectively requires agencies to "advertise their defensive capabilities" and urged balancing transparency with officer and community safety. Senior advocate Jimmy Knott urged that planning for non‑lethal agent deployments include decontamination and medical care for seniors and vulnerable people, citing CDC guidance about potential harms; councilmembers and staff said paramedics and SWAT medics are deployed or stand by when such tactics are used and that medics are trained to treat exposures.
Councilmember Weiss asked whether Tasers are considered non‑lethal (Chief McKeon: yes) and the council moved and approved the staff recommendation to adopt the AB 41 report and the accompanying resolution by a 5–0 vote.
The public‑hearing record will remain available on the city's transparency website as required by law; McKeon said the AB 41 posting was published at least 30 days before the hearing.
