Bakersfield Police Department
Military Equipment Annual Report 2024-2025
December 1, 2025
Bakersfield Police Department Military Equipment Annual Report
Pending City Council Approval
California Assembly Bill No. 481 (AB 481) established legislative intent to increase public transparency by how California law enforcement agencies fund, acquire, and use “military equipment.” In 2022, the Bakersfield Police Department established Policy 791 Military Equipment Use Policy which covers guidelines for the approval, acquisition, and reporting requirements of military equipment as defined by Government Code §§ 7070, 7071, and 7072.
The term “military equipment” does not necessarily indicate equipment used by the military.
California Government Code 7070, section (c), specifies what defines “military equipment” and provides a list of items covered by AB 481. The majority of the equipment defined in this Government Code section and possessed by the Bakersfield Police Department is employed by most law enforcement agencies across the country to enhance citizen and officer safety.
California Government Code 7072 requires the Bakersfield Police Department to submit an annual military equipment report to the Bakersfield City Council by the end of each year for as long as the military equipment is available for use.
The Bakersfield Police Department shall make each annual military equipment report publicly available on the department website for as long as the military equipment is available for use and hold a community engagement meeting within 30 days of posting the report to the department website. The report shall include the following information for the immediately preceding calendar year:
1. A summary of how the military equipment was used and the purpose of its use.
2. A summary of any complaints or concerns received concerning the military equipment.
3. The results of any internal audits, any information about violations of the military equipment use policy, and any actions taken in response.
4. The total annual cost for each type of military equipment, including acquisition, personnel, training, transportation, maintenance, storage, upgrade, and other ongoing costs, and from what source funds will be provided for the military equipment in the calendar year following submission of the annual military equipment report.
5. The quantity possessed for each type of military equipment.
6. If the law enforcement agency intends to acquire additional military equipment in the next year, the quantity sought for each type of military equipment.
This report shall cover the period from December 1, 2024, through December 1, 2025.
Bakersfield Police Department Military Equipment Annual Report
Pending City Council Approval
Robots (Unmanned, Remotely Piloted, Powered Ground Vehicles) The Bakersfield Police Department currently has five (5) unmanned ground vehicles (robots).
This equipment is utilized by the Bakersfield Police Department Bomb Squad and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team to remotely gain visual/audio data, carry equipment, open doors, facilitate disposal of hazardous devices, and clear buildings without exposing officers to hazardous situations. They may be deployed during high-risk situations such as searches for wanted subjects, barricaded subjects, and hostage rescues. They may also be used to inspect hazardous materials, possible explosive devices, and other hazardous situations. • Equipment Costs
o One of our robots, the Remotec (large Bomb Robot) is aging, and parts are becoming obsolete. There will be a cost of $207,367 to modernize the robot to the current version which allows for updated features and capabilities, extending the service life, and minimizing maintenance needs. This will be modernized during the FY 25-26 budget cycle.
o There were no training costs as the training for this equipment is incorporated into existing Bomb Squad and SWAT team training.
• The robots are primarily maintained and used by the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit (EOD or aka Bomb Squad). EOD was called out 60 times to use their robot for a tactical situation. EOD also provided 27 demonstrations of their robots for the public. • There were no complaints received regarding the use of this equipment. • There were no discoveries of any inappropriate use of this equipment. • The Bakersfield Police Department intends to continue participating in the Law Enforcement military equipment surplus “1033 Program” and specifically seek out additional military surplus robots to improve the existing inventory utilized by the Bakersfield Police Department Bomb Squad. Military surplus items, such as unmanned, remotely piloted, powered ground vehicles, are provided for law enforcement at no cost to our agency.
Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)
The Bakersfield Police Department currently has twenty-eight (28) unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). This equipment is utilized by the Bakersfield Police Department UAS Team, Bomb Squad, and SWAT team to remotely gain visual/audio data, carry equipment, open doors, facilitate disposal of hazardous devices, and clear buildings without exposing officers to hazardous situations. They may be deployed for search and rescue operations to assist personnel in rescuing individuals in dangerous conditions and locating missing persons. They may be deployed during high-risk situations such as searches for wanted subjects, barricaded subjects, and hostage rescues. They may also be used to inspect hazardous materials, possible explosive devices, and other hazardous situations.
Bakersfield Police Department Military Equipment Annual Report
Pending City Council Approval
• Equipment Costs
o Approximately $16,901.16 was used to replace equipment, purchase additional supporting equipment, and repair existing drones (UAS) for FY 24-25 into FY 25-
26. o There was $27,763.07 spent on training to operate these systems. • There were no complaints received regarding the use of this equipment. • There were no discoveries of any inappropriate use of this equipment. • UAS were called out 46 times to assist with providing overwatch, searching for suspects/missing persons, and clearing residences. It is difficult to enumerate every single time UAS is used due to several shifts a week are staffed with at least a UAS Pilot and an observer to assist with patrol operations. The total listed above captures the times a UAS pilot was called out to the field to assist with an operation. • The Bakersfield Police Department intends to purchase additional unmanned aerial systems from the 2025-2026 fiscal budget. Additional equipment will be purchased to replace damaged or inoperable equipment and increase operational capabilities. The additional equipment purchased will be provided in the 2026-2027 Military Equipment Annual Report.
Armored Vehicles
The Bakersfield Police Department has one (1) Lenco armored vehicle. The vehicle is used during patrol and critical incidents to support tactical operations and provide safe transport, security, and rescue of department personnel and members of the public. They may also be used during disaster-related emergencies, search and rescue operations, and terrorism preparedness, protection, and response.
• Equipment Costs
o Approximately $6,000 per year is spent on service, repairs, and fuel for the Lenco Bearcat.
o There were no training costs as the training for this equipment is incorporated into the existing SWAT team training.
• It is difficult to enumerate the times the Lenco Bearcat is used throughout the year.
Direct callouts for this equipment range between 30-50 times a year, generally with a barricaded subject who potentially is armed with some type of firearm. This equipment also responds with every SWAT Team Callout, which averages 20-25 times a year. • There were no complaints received regarding the use of this equipment. • There were no discoveries of any inappropriate use of this equipment. • Our agency has faced multiple instances where a single armored vehicle was insufficient to meet the demands of our operations. These situations have required us to borrow vehicles from neighboring agencies, highlighting the limitations of our current resources.
Recognizing the critical need for additional capacity, we are actively exploring funding Bakersfield Police Department Military Equipment Annual Report
Pending City Council Approval
opportunities to secure an additional armored vehicle to better support our mission and enhance our operational readiness.
Command-and-Control Vehicles
The Bakersfield Police Department utilizes three (3) command and control vehicles, including the Bomb Squad response vehicle, the Crisis Negotiations Team vehicle, and the SWAT equipment vehicle. These vehicles are deployed during critical incidents, search and rescue operations, and pre-staged events to transport specialized equipment and provide a mobile office, shelter, and access to the Bakersfield Police Department’s Office computer systems. • Equipment Costs
o Approximately $6,500 per year is spent on service, repairs, and fuel for all command-and-control vehicles.
o There were no complaints received regarding the use of this equipment. • The command-and-control vehicles are used for SWAT callouts, critical incidents, and public demonstrations. They (all command-and-control vehicles) were called out 4 times this year to provide command and control assistance during SWAT callouts. EOD (Bomb) Truck was called out sixty (60) times and used for public demonstrations twenty (20) times. The SWAT Truck was used for public demonstrations fourteen (14) times. • There were no discoveries of any inappropriate use of this equipment. • There is current intent to seek additional equipment in this category, specifically, a new Command Post / Crisis Negotiation Vehicle. Bakersfield Police Department is actively looking for grants and federal assistance with the purchase of a new Command Post to replace the aging one in our inventory. The cost for a new command post ranges from $600,000 to $1,000,000.
40 MM Launchers and Rounds
The Bakersfield Police Department currently has forty-nine (49) 40mm single-launchers, two (2) Milkor Mulit-Launchers, one hundred thirty (130) exact impact 40mm projectiles, two hundred sixty (260) direct impact OC projectiles, fifty (50) direct impact CS projectiles, twenty (20) 4330 liquid CS barricade projectiles, nineteen (19) 4340 liquid OC barricade projectiles, eight (8) Inert Signal 100m 40mm, ten (10) Marking 40mm, eight (8) Inert Signal 150m 40mm, and four (4) ferret liquid CS barricade penetrating projectiles, These launchers are less lethal tools designed to be used from a distance to compel potentially violent suspects to cease dangerous actions and/or comply with arrest. Any expired munitions are removed from inventory and used for training scenarios.
• Equipment Costs
Bakersfield Police Department Military Equipment Annual Report
Pending City Council Approval
o Approximately $14,800 from the Bakersfield Police Department fiscal year 2024- 2025 budget was spent on purchasing additional 40mm rounds and two (2) Milkor Multi-Launchers.
o There was $3,500 in costs associated with additional training for the use of this equipment. This cost enabled the instruction of four (4) train-the-trainer qualified instructors.
• This equipment is used in a variety of situations ranging from a direct-impact weapon to chemical munitions deployment; either direct-impact or area denial. The 40mm launchers were used fifteen (15) times as a direct-impact weapon. The 40mm launcher was used eight (8) times to deploy chemical munitions for area saturation. The 40mm launcher was used five (5) times to break windows on either vehicles or residences during a tactical operation.
• There were no complaints received regarding the use of this equipment. • There were no discoveries of any inappropriate use of this equipment.
Less Lethal Munition Launching Cups
The Bakersfield Police Department currently has two (2) less lethal munition launching cups.
Less Lethal munition launching cups are devices designed to attach to the muzzle of a shotgun.
They are used to deploy various types of less lethal or special-purpose munitions during crowd control, riot control, and other situations where less lethal force is required. • Equipment Costs
o There were no new costs related to this equipment.
• There were no training costs as the training for this equipment is incorporated into existing SWAT team training.
• This equipment was not used during this reporting period. • There were no complaints received regarding the use of this equipment. • There were no discoveries of any inappropriate use of this equipment. • There is no current intent to seek additional equipment in this category.
Distraction Devices (Noise Flash Diversionary Devices)
The Bakersfield Police Department SWAT team currently has forty-three (43) CTS 7290m distraction devices and twenty-two (22) CTS 7290-9 multi-bang distraction devices. Distraction devices produce a loud “bang” and white light to cause short-term physiological/psychological sensory overload. The SWAT team utilizes distraction devices to provide a tactical advantage during critical incidents such as high-risk search warrants, arrests of armed and violent subjects, and hostage rescues.
• Equipment Costs
o Approximately $4,100 from the Bakersfield Police Department fiscal year 2024- 2025 budget was spent on purchasing additional distraction devices.
Bakersfield Police Department Military Equipment Annual Report
Pending City Council Approval
o There was $4,862 in costs associated with additional training for the use of this equipment. This cost enabled the instruction of eleven (11) train-the-trainer qualified instructors.
• There was one (1) use of a CTS 7290-9 (9 Bang NFDD) during a high-risk tactical search warrant operation and six (6)
• There were no complaints received regarding the use of this equipment. • There were no discoveries of any inappropriate use of this equipment. • The Bakersfield Police Department SWAT team intends to purchase additional distraction devices from the existing 2025-2026 fiscal budget to meet needed inventory requirements. The actual number of distraction devices purchased will be provided in the 2026-2027 Military Equipment Annual Report.
Rifles
The Bakersfield Police Department SWAT Team currently has thirty-nine (39) .223 caliber specialized SWAT rifles (eight (8) .223 specialized SWAT rifles are currently not in-service), six (6) .223 caliber specialized sniper rifles, Lonestar Armory 14.5” upper receiver group (SPRs), seven (7) .308 caliber specialized sniper rifles (two (2) Cadex Surgeon bolt action rifles, three (3) Remington 700 bolt action rifle, one (1) Defiance Machine Deviant Tactical bolt action rifle), seven (7) Sig Sauer MPX 9mm SBRs, and two (2) Barret .50 caliber sniper rifles. The Bakersfield Police Department SWAT Team has four hundred ninety (490) rounds of Hornady A-Max 700 grain .50 caliber ammunition, forty-eight (48) rounds of MK263 750 grain .50 caliber armor piercing (AP), nine (9) rounds of MK211 Mod O Raufoss 665 grain .50 caliber multi-purpose.
These are precision weapons intended to address a deadly threat with more accuracy from a greater distance than a handgun, such as an encounter with an armed barricaded suspect. The large caliber rifles are available for vehicle-borne threats. They also provide greater penetration of soft body armor than a handgun.
• Equipment Costs
o Approximately $35,138.61 from the Bakersfield Police Department fiscal year 2024-2025 budget was spent on repairs, maintenance, and parts for the current rifles maintained by the SWAT Team.
o $5,413.62was spent from the fiscal year 2024-2025 budget on the purchase of two (2) additional .308 rifle.
o There was $10,625 in costs associated with additional training for the use of this equipment.
• Although these rifles are deployed during high-risk warrant executions, SWAT call-outs, and other tactical situations, there were none discharged in the line of duty during this time period.
• There were no complaints received regarding the use of this equipment • There were no discoveries of any inappropriate use of this equipment.
Bakersfield Police Department Military Equipment Annual Report
Pending City Council Approval
• There is no current intent to seek additional equipment in this category.
Chemical Agent and Smoke Canisters
The Bakersfield Police Department maintains several types of chemical agents and smoke canisters, which are less-lethal tools used to compel violent/armed and barricaded suspects to comply when circumstances are too hazardous for deputies to approach them. Chemical agents and smoke canisters may also be used against members of riotous crowds to defend against a threat to life or serious bodily injury or to bring an objectively dangerous and unlawful situation safely and effectively under control. The Bakersfield Police Department currently has approximately eighty-seven (87) expired chemical agents and smoke canisters that will be removed from inventory and only utilized for training purposes. • Equipment Costs
o Approximately $7,213.05 from the Bakersfield Police Department fiscal year 2024-2025 budget was spent on purchasing additional chemical agents and smoke canisters.
• There were no training costs as the training for this equipment is incorporated into the existing SWAT team and SRT training.
• Chemical agents were used three (3) times during this reporting period. All uses were during a SWAT Operation to dislodge a suspect from a barricade situation. • There were no complaints received regarding the use of this equipment. • There were no discoveries of any inappropriate use of this equipment. • The Bakersfield Police Department SWAT team and SRT intend to purchase additional chemical agents and smoke canisters from the existing 2025-2026 fiscal budget to meet needed inventory requirements. The actual number of chemical agents and smoke canisters purchased will be provided in the 2026-2027 Miliary Equipment Annual Report.
Explosive Breaching Tools
The Bakersfield Police Department has an inventory of specialized 12-gauge rounds and explosive materials utilized to breach doors, windows, and other locking components. This equipment is used by the Bomb Squad and SWAT team to breach doors, walls, and/or windows to provide a tactical advantage quickly and effectively during critical incidents. • Equipment Costs
o There were no new costs related to this equipment.
o $7,507.65 in training costs to certify two (2) SWAT Operators for explosive/kinetic energy breaching.
• Explosive breaching tools were not used during this reporting period. • There were no complaints received regarding the use of this equipment. • There were no discoveries of any inappropriate use of this equipment.
Bakersfield Police Department Military Equipment Annual Report
Pending City Council Approval
• There is no current intent to seek additional equipment in this category.