Military Equipment

Military Equipment Funding, Acquisition and Use Policy

Effective September 30th, 2021, Assembly Bill 481 (“AB 481”) requires law enforcement agencies to obtain approval of the applicable governing body (i.e., Mayor and City Council), by adopting a military equipment use policy prior to taking certain actions relating to the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment, as that term is defined by Government Code § 7070(c).

- Read the full bill text

On this page:

• Requirements
• Definition of Military Equipment
• Documents
• Annual Report
• Public Input Regarding AB 481
• Upcoming Public Meetings

Requirements

AB 481 requires each law enforcement agency's governing body to adopt a written military use policy by ordinance in addition to the following:

• Publish the draft military equipment use policy to the Police Department’s website thirty (30) days ahead of a public hearing to approve the policy.
• Obtain approval by the applicable governing body (Mayor and City Council), by adoption of a military equipment use policy prior to taking certain actions relating to the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment, as defined. (See definitions below)
• Publish an annual report by the law enforcement agency to include each type of military equipment approved by the governing body.
• Annual review of the military equipment use ordinance by the governing body, and option to either disapprove a renewal of a type of military equipment or amend the military equipment use policy if it determines that the military equipment does not comply with standards for approval.
• Hold at least one well-publicized and conveniently located community engagement meeting within thirty (30) days of submitting and publicly releasing the annual military equipment report.

Definition of Military Equipment

AB 481 designates the following categories of items as military equipment:

• Unmanned, remotely piloted, powered aerial or ground vehicles.
• Mine-resistant ambush-protected ("MRAP") vehicles or armored personnel carriers.
• High mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles ("HMMWV)", two-and-one-half-ton
  trucks, five-ton trucks, or wheeled vehicles that have a breaching or entry apparatus
  attached.
• Tracked armored vehicles that provide ballistic protection to their occupants.
• Command and control vehicles that are either built or modified to facilitate the
  operational control and direction of public safety units.
• Weaponized aircraft, vessels, or vehicles of any kind.
• Battering rams, slugs, and breaching apparatuses that are explosive in nature. This
  does not include a handheld, one-person ram.
• Firearms and ammunition of.50 caliber or greater, excluding standard-issue shotguns
  and standard-issue shotgun ammunition.
• 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, with the exception of standard-issue firearms.
• Any firearm or firearm accessory that is designed to launch explosive projectiles.
• Noise-flash diversionary devices and explosive breaching tools.
• Munitions containing tear gas or OC, excluding standard, service-issued handheld
  pepper spray.
• TASER® Shockwave, microwave weapons, water cannons, and long-range acoustic
  devices ("LRADs").
• Kinetic energy weapons and munitions.
• Any other equipment as determined by the City Council to require additional oversight.

Documents

• Lexipol 708 Military_Equipment.pdf
• Lexipol 704 Remote Controlled Unmanned Ground Vehicle (002).pdf
• OPD 481 2026 01 01.pdf

Annual Report

A law enforcement agency that receives approval for a military equipment use policy is required to submit to the governing body an annual military equipment report for each type of military equipment approved by the governing body within one year of approval, and annually thereafter for as long as the military equipment is available for use. The annual report is also required to be made publicly available on the department's website.

Additional Requirements for the Report

The annual military equipment report shall, at a minimum, include the following information for the immediately preceding calendar year for each type of military equipment:

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.
7. Hold at least one well-publicized and conveniently located community engagement meeting within thirty (30) days of submitting and publicly releasing the annual military equipment report. This report, and any associated information, will be published on this webpage. The first Annual Report will be distributed in or around October/November.

Public Input Regarding AB 481

On Jan 4th, 2026, the Ontario Police Department posted the proposed military equipment policy on this website and submitted the proposed policy to City Council for the annual reading on February 3rd, 2026 and  and is scheduled for City Council consideration on February 17th, 2026. 

Members of the public may register complaints or concerns, or submit questions about the use of each specific type of military equipment in this policy by any of the following means:

1. Via email to: MilitaryEquipmentCoordinator@ontariopolice.org
2. Via phone call to: (909) 395-2001
3. Via mail sent to: Ontario Police Department

                Attn: Military Equipment Use Coordinator
                2500 S. Archibald Avenue
                Ontario, CA 91761

The Department is committed to responding to complaints, concerns and/or questions received through any of the above methods in a timely manner.

Upcoming Public Meetings

• Feb 3rd, 2026. City Council Meeting: First Reading of the Ordinance Adopting the Military Equipment Policy.
• Feb 17th, 2026. City Council Meeting: Second Reading (Tentative date)