AB481: Annual Military Equipment Use Report (Richmond, CA) - 6/5/2026

This community engagement meeting, held on June 5, 2026, by the Richmond Police Department and broadcast by KCRT TV, focused on the annual AB481 Military Equipment Use Report. The presentation detailed the department's inventory of military equipment, including drones, tactical robots, patrol rifles, breaching tools, and less lethal weapons, as well as their authorized uses, training requirements, and fiscal impacts. The report highlighted 2025 operational use data, including 333 patrol rifle deployments with only one actual use, 104 drone deployments, and 766 drone-as-first-responder missions. The department discussed acquisitions planned for 2026, including 10 Colt M4 carbines and replenishment of consumables, and noted an armored rescue vehicle evaluation with a quoted cost of $48,367. Fiscal expenditures for 2025 totaled approximately $405,425, with significant costs attributed to the drone program and training. Public comments raised concerns about the impact of military equipment on community trust, racial disparities in deployments, and questioned the necessity and cost-effectiveness of maintaining large inventories of patrol rifles and drones. The department emphasized its commitment to transparency, community partnership, and adherence to AB481 requirements, including policy compliance and oversight. The meeting concluded with assurances that community feedback would be incorporated into the city council review process.