POLICE DEPARTMENT
Military Equipment Use Report
Assembly Bill 481
Presented to
City Council
Pasadena Police Department
Annual Update
2025 – 2026
Lieutenant Anthony Russo
September 29, 2026
Police Department
Recommendations
• 1. Find that this action proposed herein is not a “project” subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 21065 and within the meaning of Section 15378(b); • 2. Find that each type of military equipment identified in the Pasadena Police Department (PPD) July 2025 through June 2026 Annual Military Equipment Report has complied with the standards for approval set forth in the PPD Military Equipment Policy 711 and Government Code Section 7070 et seq.; • 3. Authorize the PPD SWAT team to use Energy Assisted Breaching (EAB), when appropriate and consistent with PPD Policy 409;
• 4. Authorize the updated use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for public safety operations consistent with PPD Policy 622;
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Recommendations
• 5. Confirm that authorization of UAS consistent with Policy 622 does not constitute authorization for the acquisition of new UAS equipment outside of scheduled replacement equipment. Any acquisition of additional UAS equipment outside of scheduled replacement equipment will require approval of City Council and is subject to the applicable AB481 process; and, • 6. Approve the continued use of the currently authorized military equipment by renewing Ordinance no. 7395 pursuant to Government Code Section 7071(e)(1).
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Assembly Bill 481 (AB 481)
Background, History & Reporting
• AB 481 requires police agencies to list, report, and seek council approval for “military equipment.”
> “Military Equipment” is a statutory term
> Pasadena Policy 711 approved June 2022 by City Council. • Report posted online August 24, 2026.
> The 2025/2026 Annual Military Equipment Report covers July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
• Public meetings: August 27, 2026 - September 29, 2026. > Community Presentation – August 27
▪ Meeting notice posted twice on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Local Media and City Website ▪ Presentation followed by Q&A
> Community Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) – September 10 > Public Safety Committee – September 16
> City Council – September 29
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Definitions
• “Military equipment” is a legal term under Gov. Code §7070. > The equipment used by Pasadena Police is not military equipment in the conventional sense. > The only equipment received from the military are the 3 Bell OH-58 helicopters that have been specifically outfitted for police operations.
• Pasadena does not own military-style weapons; all equipment is law enforcement-specific.
• All use must comply with all applicable law and Pasadena Police Department Policies.
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AB 481
Contents of the Annual Report
• The Military Equipment Use Policy and Annual Reports are posted at:
> https://www.cityofpasadena.net/police/news/ab-481-military-equipment-policy/ • The annual report contains the following information:
> A description of the equipment
> The capabilities of the equipment.
> The purpose and authorized uses of the equipment.
> The expected lifespan of the equipment.
> The fiscal impact of the equipment when initially procured and any on-going maintenance costs.
> The quantity of the equipment whether maintained or sought. > The legal and procedural rules that govern each authorized use. > The training that must be completed by officers before use is authorized. 6 Police Department
Summary of Authorized Military
Equipment
• There are 16 categories of Military Equipment as defined by AB 481.
Pasadena does not possess equipment in the following 7 categories:
> Category 3 - High Mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle > Category 4 - Tracked armored vehicles
> Category 6 - Weaponized aircraft
> Category 10 - Specialized firearms and ammunition of less that .50 caliber
> Category 11- Any firearm or firearm accessory that is designed to launch explosive projectiles
> Category 13 - Taser shockwave, microwave, water cannons or long-range acoustic device (LRAD)
> Category 15 - Any other equipment as determined by a governing body or state agency to require additional oversight.
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Assembly Bill 481
Pasadena Police Equipment Inventory
Military Equipment Categories: (9 categories in Pasadena) Category 1 - Unmanned, remotely piloted, powered aerial or ground vehicles • Tactical Robot
• Drones (UAS)
Category 2 - Mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles or armored personnel carriers
• BearCat Armored Rescue Vehicles
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Assembly Bill 481
Pasadena Police Equipment Inventory
Category 5 - Command and control vehicles that are either built or modified to facilitate the operational control and direction of public safety units
• Mobile Command Center
Category 7 - Battering rams, slugs, and breaching apparatuses that are explosive in nature
• Lock defeating/breaching shotgun rounds
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Assembly Bill 481
Pasadena Police Equipment Inventory
Category 8 - Firearms of .50 caliber or greater – Specifically Excludes shotguns • .50 caliber precision rifle
Category 9 - Ammunition of .50 caliber or greater - Specifically Excludes shotgun rounds • .50 caliber ammunition
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Assembly Bill 481
Pasadena Police Equipment Inventory
Category 12 - Flashbangs and explosive breaching tools, “tear gas,” and “pepper balls,” (excludes standard handheld pepper spray)
• Flashbang Distraction Devices
• Chemical Agents (CS & OC)
• Pepper Ball Launcher and rounds – PAVA Powder
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Assembly Bill 481
Pasadena Police Equipment Inventory
Category 14 - Projectile launch platforms and associated munitions • 40mm launchers (both single and multi-launchers)
• 40mm impact munitions
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Assembly Bill 481
Pasadena Police Equipment Inventory
Category 16 - Equipment controlled by the Federal Defense Logistics Agency • Bell OH-58 Helicopters
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Summary of Use
• Category 1 – Unmanned Aerial Systems and Unmanned Ground Systems
> The UAS was deployed 3 times in training for about 3 minutes of flight. > The tactical robot was deployed 4 times in training.
• Category 2 – Armored Rescue Vehicle
> The BearCat armored vehicle was deployed 51 times.
▪ 11 SWAT, 2 Patrol, 32 Training, 4 Community Events
• Category 5 – Mobile Command Vehicle
> The Mobile Command Center (MCC) was deployed 27 times. • Category 7 – Lock defeating rounds and breaching shotgun > The breaching shotgun and lock defeating rounds were not deployed. • Category 8 – .50 Caliber Rifles
> The .50 caliber rifle was deployed twice: once for Rose Parade overwatch and once for training to confirm accuracy and proficiency of operator prior to the event. • Category 9 – .50 Caliber Munitions
> 15 rounds were expended during training to confirm zero prior to Rose Parade deployment. 14 Police Department
Summary of Use
• Category 12 – Flashbang Devices, Chemical Agents and PepperBall > A total of 33 flashbang devices were used—28 during training and 5 in SWAT operations. > Chemical agents were not deployed operationally.
> PepperBall was not deployed operationally. Approx. 1000 rounds used in training for annual qualifications.
• Category 14 – 40mm Impact Munitions
> 40mm less-lethal munitions were not deployed operationally. Approximately 200 rounds were used in training during annual qualifications.
• Category 16 – Bell OH-58 Helicopters
> 1,510.6 hours of flight time, supporting patrol, training, and F.A.S.T. deployments. 15 Bell OH-58 Patrol Hours F.A.S.T. Hours Training Hours Total Hours N224KB 635.9 91 0 726.9
N239PS 666.2 44 0 710.2
N854RJ 39.4 0 34.1 73.5
Police Department
Complaints & Audits
• Complaints
> The Pasadena Police Department received 7 noise complaints regarding the use of the Bell OH-58 helicopters.
> There were no other complaints received regarding authorized military equipment in this reporting period.
• Audits
> There were no violations or misuse of military equipment reported or identified. > Chemical agents and aging 40mm munitions were replaced and removal from operational service was confirmed. All training munitions were inventoried and will be used for training. > Equipment was audited and operational status confirmed. Mobile Command Post (MCP) has transitioned from command ops to a Filed Support Unit.
16 Date of complaint Location of helicopter Operational use at time of complaint
Nature of
complaint
7/17/2025 – 2110 El Molino/Howard Patrol Noise
02/25/2026 – 0800 Northwest Pasadena Surveillance Noise 04/03/2026 – 1616 Chandler School Patrol Noise
4/23/2026 – 2230 Citywide Patrol Noise
5/8/2026 – 1916 Northwest Pasadena Patrol/Surveillance Noise 5/30/2026 – 1945 Rose Bowl Soccer Game Noise
06/22/2026 – 0000 Old Town Area Patrol Noise
Police Department
Fiscal Impact
• Operating budget for the department for the 2025-2026 fiscal year was $122,720,771.
• The Pasadena Police Department spent approximately:
> $64,231 replacing flashbangs, 40mm, chemical and PepperBall munitions. > $1,124 was spent on the BearCat for required maintenance. > $4,231 was spent on the Mobile Command Center for required maintenance. > $410,067 was spent on flights and maintenance of the 3 Bell OH-58 helicopters ▪ (20% is covered by F.A.S.T contract cities).
• Estimated military equipment expenditures - $473,614
> Less than 0.4% of budget
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Projected 26/27 Acquisitions
• Replace SWAT UAS and Public Safety UAS purchase. Evaluate and integrate UAS for use in a variety of Public Safety application to include, Patrol, Traffic, Fire response and firework suppression. Estimated cost: $250K-400K > Policy was presented and reviewed by CPOC on July 9 and recommended for advancement to City Council. The policy will be presented to City Council in September for approval. > Procurement of new UAS technology other than SWAT replacements will be presented to City Council for approval following established AB 481 protocols. • Purchase energy assisted breaching (EAB) materials for use in limited tactical situations by the Pasadena SWAT team. Estimated cost $7-$12K > The EAB Policy was presented and reviewed by CPOC on August 13 and recommended for advancement to City Council. Policy will be submitted to City Council in September for approval.
• The Police Department is researching and assessing the addition of throwable unmanned ground systems for use by the Pasadena Police Department SWAT Team. Estimated cost: $20K-60K
> The throwable micro-robot platform enables operators to obtain instantaneous video and audio reconnaissance within indoor or outdoor environments during tactical situations. 18 Police Department
Conclusion
19 • The Pasadena Police Department’s Annual Military Equipment Use Report reflects our commitment to transparency, accountability, and lawful use.
• The equipment and resources outlined in this report are essential to protect both the public and our officers. When used responsibly and with proper training, these tools support effective conflict resolution, enhance situational awareness, and enable professional responses to high-risk incidents.
• Our ongoing investment in training and professionalism ensures these tools are used appropriately, legally and only when necessary. • Approval of the recommendations supports the City Council's commitment to effective public safety while maintaining transparency, oversight, accountability, and appropriate limitations on the acquisition and use of specialized law enforcement equipment.