AB 481 ANNUAL REPORT 2024-2025
GONZALES POLICE DEPARTMENT
AB 481 requires the Police Department to provide the City Council and the public with a report outlining how the military equipment possessed and/or acquired by the City during the previous year was used to ensure the police department is adhering to its policy and the City ordinance concerning military equipment. In Fiscal Year 2024-2025, the Gonzales Police Department did not acquire any new equipment that would be considered “military equipment” pursuant to the provisions of Government Code Section 7070 et seq.
1. Semi-automatic rifles.
A. A summary of how the military equipment was used and the purpose of its use. These are standard-issue duty weapons, occasionally deployed in circumstances in which an officer can articulate a reasonable expectation that the rifle may be needed (e.g. where an officer anticipates an armed encounter, need for long range fire, where an officer believes a suspect may be wearing body armor).
B. A summary of any complaints or concerns received concerning the military equipment.
None.
C. The results of any internal audits, any information about violations of the military equipment use policy, and any actions taken in response. None.
D. 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 year following submission of the annual military equipment report. Minimal maintenance and training costs, paid for out of Police Department Budget.
E. The quantity possessed of each type of military equipment. Nine.
F. If the law enforcement agency intends to acquire additional military equipment in the next year, the quantity sought, for each type of military equipment. None.
2. 38 mm Less Lethal Projectile Launchers.
A. A summary of how the military equipment was used and the purpose of its use. Not used.
B. A summary of any complaints or concerns received concerning the military equipment.
None.
C. The results of any internal audits, any information about violations of the military equipment use policy, and any actions taken in response. None.
D. 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 year following submission of the annual military equipment report. No cost for this reporting period.
E. The quantity possessed of each type of military equipment. Three.
F. If the law enforcement agency intends to acquire additional military equipment in the next year, the quantity sought, for each type of military equipment. None.
3. Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) (aka “drones”). The Gonzales Police Department operates one DJI Matrice 30T UAS. The UAS is an unmanned, remotely powered and piloted aerial system that can sustain direct flight, designed for gathering information via photograph, recording or other means. The UAS is equipped with a Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) and optical zoom lenses.
A. A summary of how the military equipment was used and the purpose of its use. The Gonzales Police Department uses the UAS for law enforcement operations to preserve and enhance public safety. The UAS can be deployed when an overhead view would assist officers or incident commanders with planning and responding to situations such as:
a. Public safety and life preservation missions including, but not limited to, barricaded suspects, hostage situations, active shooters, apprehension of armed and dangerous fleeing suspects, and during the execution of search warrants. b. Major traffic collision investigations.
c. Natural disaster management or disaster response and recovery. d. Mass casualty events.
e. Search for lost or missing persons or rescue events. f. Suspected explosive devices.
g. Post-incident crime scene preservation and documentation. h. Pursuant to a search warrant.
i. Anytime a UAS would enhance public safety and improve operational safety. j. Anti-UAV operations when a person is operating a UAV in a manner which impedes emergency personnel who, in the course of their duties, are coping with an emergency (refer to Penal Code 402(a)(2)).
k. Training missions.
l. Mutual aid support or training missions in support of Gonzales Fire Department when the underlying mission meets the uses outlined in policy. Unmanned aerial systems used by the Gonzales Police Department are used in compliance with all federal, state, and local laws.
m. Special Events.
In Fiscal Year 2024/2025 the drone had a total of seventy-seven (77) flights, 24 of which were completed for training purposes.
B. A summary of any complaints or concerns received concerning the military equipment.
The City received several informal complaints during the course of public comment that the drone had been used in violation of relevant law and for improper or illegal purposes. None of these claims has ever been substantiated.
C. The results of any internal audits, any information about violations of the military equipment use policy, and any actions taken in response. None.
D. 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 year following submission of the annual military equipment report. There have been no training or operational costs in Fiscal Year 2024-25.
E. The quality possessed of each type of military equipment. One.