Carlsbad council introduces ordinance to renew police military‑equipment policy after annual use report
April 14, 2026 | Carlsbad, San Diego County, California
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Lieutenant Brett Khosrove presented the Carlsbad Police Department’s 2025 military equipment use report and recommended receipt of the report, a public hearing, and introduction of an ordinance to renew the department’s military equipment policy.
Khosrove told the council the department’s inventory lists 54 items and that "only 7 are used outside the SWAT team," noting most equipment requires specialized training. He said 2025 changes included replacing two older drones with two Matrix 4T drones, purchasing an additional Avada 2 drone, acquiring two pairs of dual‑tube night‑vision goggles with state homeland‑security grant funds, converting some shotguns to less‑lethal platforms (raising beanbag inventory from 41 to 44), and decommissioning five Remington 700 LTR bolt‑action rifles and one AR‑10 rifle.
Khosrove summarized deployments described in the annual use report: a high‑risk search warrant, four critical incidents involving armed or barricaded subjects, a less‑lethal deployment using beanbag rounds and a Taser to disarm a knife‑armed individual, 15 quick‑reaction force deployments supporting large public events, two mobile‑field‑force deployments for preplanned protests, and two VIP protection details. He also said recorded drone takeoffs and landings numbered as recorded flights and cautioned that flight counts measure takeoffs/landings rather than distinct incidents.
Councilmembers thanked staff for transparency and community outreach; several described having attended the department’s public events where equipment was displayed. Councilmember Kevin Shinn said he receives resident questions about "why we have the type of military‑grade weaponry" and supported renewal while emphasizing responsible purchasing and training. Councilmember Acosta stressed the value of transparency and noted the department’s extra community events beyond the statutory requirement.
Mayor Blackburn called for a motion to introduce the ordinance to renew the military equipment policy; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Next steps: the city will hold the required public hearing and consider third‑reading/adoption of the ordinance in a future meeting per state law.
Khosrove told the council the department’s inventory lists 54 items and that "only 7 are used outside the SWAT team," noting most equipment requires specialized training. He said 2025 changes included replacing two older drones with two Matrix 4T drones, purchasing an additional Avada 2 drone, acquiring two pairs of dual‑tube night‑vision goggles with state homeland‑security grant funds, converting some shotguns to less‑lethal platforms (raising beanbag inventory from 41 to 44), and decommissioning five Remington 700 LTR bolt‑action rifles and one AR‑10 rifle.
Khosrove summarized deployments described in the annual use report: a high‑risk search warrant, four critical incidents involving armed or barricaded subjects, a less‑lethal deployment using beanbag rounds and a Taser to disarm a knife‑armed individual, 15 quick‑reaction force deployments supporting large public events, two mobile‑field‑force deployments for preplanned protests, and two VIP protection details. He also said recorded drone takeoffs and landings numbered as recorded flights and cautioned that flight counts measure takeoffs/landings rather than distinct incidents.
Councilmembers thanked staff for transparency and community outreach; several described having attended the department’s public events where equipment was displayed. Councilmember Kevin Shinn said he receives resident questions about "why we have the type of military‑grade weaponry" and supported renewal while emphasizing responsible purchasing and training. Councilmember Acosta stressed the value of transparency and noted the department’s extra community events beyond the statutory requirement.
Mayor Blackburn called for a motion to introduce the ordinance to renew the military equipment policy; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Next steps: the city will hold the required public hearing and consider third‑reading/adoption of the ordinance in a future meeting per state law.
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