CARLSBAD ADOPTS POLICY FOR POLICE MILITARY GEAR

Detailed list required by state law includes sniper rifles, robots

A detailed list of the Carlsbad Police Department’s military-style equipment, from its Bearcat armored vehicle to the 1,810 rounds of less-than-lethal beanbag projectiles, was approved under a policy adopted unanimously last week by the City Council.

Assembly Bill 481, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Sept. 30, 2021, requires every California law enforcement agency to adopt a similar policy and review it annually at a public meeting. The legislation is intended to ensure people are aware of and can comment on their police department’s purchase and use of military-style equipment.

Robots, drones, laser pointers, grenades and grenade launchers, 12-gauge shotguns, and various types of rifles and rifle noise suppressors are among the 55 different categories of equipment on Carlsbad’s list.

Most of the gear was purchased with prior City Council approval, and none of it came from federal military surplus programs, according to a city staff report.

The City Council unanimously approved the purchase of the Bearcat in 2011 for $254,000 using federal funds from the Department of Homeland Security’s Urban Areas Security Initiative, part of a national effort to safeguard communities from terrorism. The vehicle replaced a donated 1988 GMC Brigadier, formerly used as a bank’s armored delivery truck, that had been part of the Police Department’s inventory.

Also on the city’s list is an Avatar tactical robot, purchased for $28,009. The remote-controlled, belt-driven vehicle with camera and two-way audio can navigate different terrains including grass and stairs. It’s used for search and rescue, and to