ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: January 7, 2026 AGENDA CATEGORY: - Consent Resolutions TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Greg Terry, Chief of Police
DATE: December 16, 2025
SUBJECT: Resolution Approving the Bakersfield Police Department’s Military Equipment Use Policy and Annual Report
and Authorizing the Funding, Acquisition, and Use of Equipment Pursuant to the Policy.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution.
BACKGROUND: On September 30, 2021, the Governor approved Assembly Bill No. 481 which requires, among other things, that local law enforcement agencies maintain a "military equipment use policy " (hereafter, the " Policy") governing the purposes and authorized uses for which the agency proposes to use certain equipment. The law broadly defines “military equipment” to include a wide variety of equipment routinely used by law enforcement agencies, including types of vehicles, drones, and weapons.
The law requires the Policy to be approved by the governing body of the agency before a law enforcement agency may request, seek funds for, acquire, use, or collaborate with other agencies in the deployment of military equipment, and to renew that approval annually. The Department must also prepare an annual report that summarizes, among other things, use of the equipment and any public complaints.
The City Council has approved the Department’s Policy (currently, BPD Policy No. 705) annually since 2022, most recently via Resolution No. 188 -2024. The Bakersfield Police Department has successfully utilized, and desires to continue to utilize, the equipment identified in the Policy for the purpose of increasing the safety of our community and our officers, while reducing the likelihood of death and injury. The Department also collaborates with other law enforcement agencies, including but not limited to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, in the deployment of military equipment when available and necessary to provide effective and efficient law enforcement response to public safety emergencies, which further enhances the public safety of the community. Accordingly, the Department’s acquisition and use of the equipment, including equipment provided or shared by other law enforcement agencies, is necessary because there is no reasonable alternative that can achieve the same objective of officer and civilian safety.
The Policy has not substantively changed but for updates to the annual inventory and report as required by law. The attached Resolution renews the approval of the Policy and the Department’s annual report so that the Police Department may continue to acquire, fund and utilize certain equipment.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The approval of the resolution has no net result in fiscal impact to the City.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Safety and Resilience
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Exhibit A
3. Exhibit B