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Piedmont police report no deployments of militarized equipment in 2025; council renews ordinance
Summary
The Piedmont Police Department reported its 2025 inventory of militarized equipment, said none of the listed items were deployed during the year and that two 40mm less-lethal launchers have not been used since acquisition; the council voted to renew the ordinance requiring annual reporting.
Piedmont Police Chief Branigan presented the department's annual military-equipment report for the 2025 calendar year and explained training, oversight and usage patterns.
Chief Branigan said the department currently inventories patrol rifles (11 assigned to a patrol-rifle program), two 40-millimeter less-lethal launchers and other equipment covered under the city's military-equipment ordinance. "We haven't utilized any of these tools in the last year, and we have never used the 40 millimeter since we've had them," Branigan said, adding that the department trains annually on the 40mm system and quarterly on patrol rifles.
He described the department's use-of-force oversight: each force event is reviewed by the watch commander and then by the department's use-of-force coordinator and command staff before final review by the chief. He also said maintenance and training carry a modest recurring fiscal cost.
Councilors accepted the report and then moved to renew the ordinance governing military equipment. The renewal motion passed by voice vote; the city recorded "Aye" votes and the motion carried. There was no public comment on the item.
Next steps: the annual inventory and report remain on record; staff will continue the department's existing training and review practices and monitor any future deployments.
