FOLSOM, Calif. — Folsom City Council renewed Tuesday the Folsom Police Department’s ability to use military equipment.
The agenda item passed 5-0 as part of a larger calendar approval. It cost Folsom an estimated $15,165 to fund the equipment’s operation, training and maintenance, which is used in a variety of high-risk and critical incidents including those involving barricaded subjects, suspect searches, felony vehicle stops and building entry, according to city documents.
In February, Folsom police were engaged in a five-hour standoff with an elder abuse suspect. He appeared armed at first, but law enforcement later determined suspected firearms were actually weapon replicas.
“During that time, we used an armored vehicle, drone and tear gas weapons to safely resolve the situation and take the man into custody,” said Cmdr. Andrew Bates, a Folsom Police Department spokesman. “Without these tools, we would have been forced to confront the suspect in a more direct way, which would increase the chance deadly force would be used.”
Military equipment gives police less-lethal options and ability to collect information from a safe position, which allows the most time possible to make the best decision, he said.
Military equipment used in operations in the last year included:
- Armored Vehicle (Bearcat) — 13
- Drone (all) — 13
- Tactical Robot (Robotex Avatar) — 1
- Long Range Acoustical Device (LRAD) — 5
- SWAT Rifle — 21
- Patrol/Officer Rifle — 15
- Less Lethal Shotgun — 21
- Less Lethal Munition Launcher — 3
- Mobile Command and Communications Unit (MCCU) — 2
- Anti Vehicle Barriers — 5
- Diversionary Devices — 3
- Less Lethal Baton — 0
- Less Lethal Bean Bag — 3
- Chemical Munitions — 2
- Sniper Ammunition — 0
Military equipment used in training included:
- Armored Vehicle (Bearcat) — 15
- Drone (all) — 15
- Tactical Robot (Robotex Avatar) — 5
- Long Range Acoustical Device (LRAD) — 2
- SWAT Rifle — 24
- Patrol/Officer Rifle — 5
- Less Lethal Shotgun — 5
- Less Lethal Munition Launcher — 4
- Mobile Command and Communications Unit (MCCU) — 2
- Anti Vehicle Barriers — 0
- Diversionary Devices — 5
- Less Lethal Baton — 1
- Less Lethal Bean Bag — 5
- Chemical Munitions — 5
- Sniper Ammunition — 3,500
Police plan on replacing its current less-lethal munition launcher with a more precise, safer launcher, the report said. The department also intends to acquire a new tactical robot within the year, but it will submit an approval request to council in the future.
“These tools have been tested in the field and are used by law enforcement to enhance citizen safety and officer safety,” city staff wrote in its report submitted to council. “Loss of these items would jeopardize the welfare of citizens and peace officers within the city of Folsom. For example, the rifles deemed to be ‘military equipment’ allow peace officers to address lethal threats from a greater distance, with greater precision.”
The equipment is also used in missing person searches and outside agency assistance, according to law enforcement.
Why was it being voted on?
In accordance with Assembly Bill 481, signed into California law in 2021, the department must annually submit a military equipment report, and city council must at least annually review the city’s military equipment ordinance and decide whether or not to renew it.
As part of the report, police must submit the results of internal audits or complaints and the actions taken surrounding them.
The Folsom Police Department said it received one community complaint related to the use of drones and display of SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) rifles during a search warrant, the report said. The complaint was reportedly investigated and determined to be unfounded.
“The military equipment is necessary because there is no reasonable alternative that can achieve the same objective of officer and civilian safety,” city staff said of equipment renewal. “The proposed military equipment use policy will safeguard the public's welfare, safety, civil rights and civil liberties.”
