San Marino Police
Department
AB 481 Military Equipment
Annual Report 2025
(January 01, 2025 – October 31, 2025)
Prepared by:
Administrative Sergeant Jeremy Bestpitch
San Marino Police Department
Annual Report Description:
Assembly Bill 481 (AB 481) requires the San Marino Police Department to report annually on the inventory, procurement, use, and misuse of covered military equipment items. The annual report also includes a description of new military equipment the police department seeks City Council approval for acquisition and funding.
Per AB 481, the annual report must include the following:
(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.
SMCC Ordinance O-22-1390 (Approved May 2022)
As required by AB 481, the City Council approved and enacted by resolution San Marino City Code Ordinance O-22-1390 to approve a military equipment use policy. The City Council's approval shall remain effective for one year, during which approval may be revoked, extended, renewed, modified, or amended by resolution of the City Council.
Within a year of the initial approval, and at least annually thereafter, the City Council will review this section and related resolutions. The City Council may, by resolution, make amendments, modifications, or revisions to the military equipment use policy adopted by the San Marino Police Department. The ordinance must be reviewed and renewed annually.
A. The City Council has made the following determinations:
1. The military equipment inventoried and presented to the City Council is necessary because there is no reasonable alternative that can achieve the same objective of officer and civilian safety.
2. The military equipment use policy (SMPD policy 705) will safeguard the public’s welfare, safety, civil rights, and civil liberties.
3. The equipment is reasonably cost-effective compared to available alternatives that can achieve the same objective of officer and civilian safety (if any).
4. Prior military equipment use complied with the applicable equipment use policy (which included equipment now defined as military equipment) that was in effect at the time, or if prior uses did not comply with the accompanying military equipment use policy, corrective action has been taken to remedy nonconforming uses and ensure future compliance.
Military Equipment Usage for 2025:
Category 1: Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
On 01/08/2025, a UAS was deployed to assist officers in locating a suspect who fled on foot in the area of Euston Road and Cambridge Road. The suspect was ultimately arrested.
On 04/23/2025, a UAS was deployed in the 900 block of Orlando Road to assist officers conduct a property check for a suspicious person call.
On 05/28/2025, a UAS was deployed in the 1300 block of Oxford Road to assist officers check a city tree after an unknown subject was observed placing a large ladder against the tree.
On 05/28/2025, a UAS was deployed in the area of Oak Grove Avenue and Shenandoah Road to assist officers and San Marino firefighters check the area for a possible fire.
The source of smoke was eventually located and determined to be a food smoker.
On 06/13/2025, a UAS was deployed in the 2000 block of Huntington Drive to conduct a vehicle check in the employee parking lot for the San Marino Police Department. The vehicle was found to belong to a contractor for the city.
On 07/04/2025, a UAS was deployed to monitor the 4th of July event at Lacy Park.
On 07/08/2025, a UAS was deployed to conduct an extra patrol of a business in the 400 block of Huntington Drive.
On 12/10/2025, a UAS was deployed in the 1200 block of Oak Grove Avenue to conduct a property check for a burglary in progress call for service.
On 12/15/2025, a UAS was deployed in the 2200 block of Brentford Road for a possible suicidal subject.
On 12/21/2025, A UAS was deployed in the 3000 block of Lorain Road to assist with scene documentation for a fatal traffic crash.
Category 2: Command and Control Vehicles are either built or modified to facilitate the operational control and direction of public safety units.
On 07/03/2025, the SMPD Command Post Trailer was deployed at Lacy Park for the 4th of July event. At the conclusion of the event, the Command Post Trailer was returned to the SMPD parking lot.
On 09/04/2025, the Watch Commander Patrol vehicle, Vehicle 1, was set up as a command post for a robbery investigation in the 1100 block of Kewen Drive.
On 10/08/2025, the Watch Commander Patrol vehicle, Vehicle 1, was set up as a command post for a burglary investigation in the 900 block of Sherwood Road.
On 11/08/2025, The SMPD Command Post Trailer was deployed to 1700 Huntington Drive (Huntington Middle School) for the Cannabis Tax Fund Grant DUI Checkpoint. Upon conclusion of the event, the Command Post Trailer was returned to the SMPD parking lot.
On 12/09/2025, the Watch Commander Patrol Vehicle, Vehicle 1, was set up as a command post for a burglary in progress call for service in the 800 block of Canterbury Road.
On 12/17/2025, the Watch Commander Patrol Vehicle, Vehicle 1, was set up as a command post at Lacy Park for a burglary in progress investigation in the 1500 block of Virginia Road.
On 12/27/2025, the SMPD Command Post Trailer was deployed to 1700 Huntington Drive (Huntington Middle School) for the Office of Traffic Safety Grant DUI Checkpoint. Upon conclusion of the event, the Command Post Trailer was returned to the SMPD parking lot.
Category 3: Specialized firearms and ammunition of less than .50 caliber, including firearms and accessories identified as assault weapons in Penal Code Section 30510 and Penal Code Section 30515.
On 03/10/2025, an Officer was assisting the San Gabriel Police Department for a man with a gun call for service. A patrol rifle was deployed during the call for service. The patrol rifle was not discharged and was returned to the patrol vehicle at the conclusion of the incident.
On 04/19/2025, SMPD received a stolen vehicle alert in the area of San Gabriel Boulevard and California Boulevard. A deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was behind the stolen vehicle, and a high-risk traffic stop was conducted.
SMPD Officer deployed a patrol rifle during the stop and search of the vehicle. The patrol rifle was not discharged and was returned to the patrol vehicle at the conclusion of the incident.
On 08/13/2025, SMPD received a call for service of a man with a gun inside a residence in the 800 block of Canterbury Road. Officers arrived on scene and five SMPD officers deployed their patrol rifles. None of the patrol rifles were discharged and were returned to their respective patrol vehicles at the conclusion of the incident.
On 10/08/2025, SMPD received a call for service for a burglary in progress in the 900 block of Sherwood Road. The reporting party observed 3 subjects in their backyard via security cameras. Officers arrived on scene, and an SMPD officer deployed their patrol rifle. The patrol rifle was not discharged and was returned to the patrol vehicle at the conclusion of the incident.
On 12/10/2025, SMPD received a call for service for a burglary in progress in the 1200 block of Oak Grove Avenue. The reporting party advised they received a motion alert for the back yard, and no one was seen on their cameras. Officers arrived on scene and an SMPD officer deployed their patrol rifle. The patrol rifle was not discharged and was returned to the patrol vehicle at the conclusion of the incident.
Category 4: Kinetic Energy Weapons and Munitions
On 06/09/2025, two SMPD Officers were sent to Downtown Los Angeles on a Mutual Aid request from LAPD due to civil unrest. A 40mm less-than-lethal launcher was deployed during the civil unrest. The launcher was not discharged and returned to the patrol vehicle at the conclusion of the incident.
On 09/10/2025, officers were dispatched to a residence in the 700 block of Plymouth Road for a subject destroying the interior of the residence with a hammer. The subject was reported to be suffering a mental health crisis. An Officer deployed a 40mm lessthan-lethal launcher upon arrival at the location. The launcher was not discharged and returned to the patrol vehicle at the conclusion of the incident.
On 10/31/2025, officers were dispatched to a residence in the 1700 block of Westhaven Road for a burglary investigation. The homeowner advised their front door was secured with a chain lock from the interior. Officers observed a subject inside the location upon their arrival. An SMPD officer deployed a 40mm less-than-lethal launcher during the interior search of the property. The suspect was ultimately located within the residence. The launcher was not discharged and returned to the patrol vehicle at the conclusion of the incident.
Summary of Complaints for 2025:
The San Marino Police Department did not receive any complaints concerning military equipment deployments in 2025.
Violations of Policy 705:
An internal review revealed no violations of Policy 705.
Total Annual Cost for Military Equipment:
The fiscal impact for yearly maintenance costs for each category is documented in the attached Military Equipment Inventory. There has been no significant change since the last Military Equipment Report (2024).
Type and Quantity of Military Equipment owned by the SMPD:
Category 1 (Command Post/Command Vehicles): 2
Category 2 (UAS): 2
Category 3 (Kinetic Energy Weapons): 8
Category 4 (Assault Weapons): 36
Acquisition of Military Equipment in the upcoming year:
For the upcoming 2025-2026 City Budget, the Department is not making a request for funding to purchase Military Equipment.