DOWNEY – The Downey Police Department this week released an updated inventory of military equipment in its possession, including drones, distraction devices, and canisters equipped with chemical agents.

In a written report to the city council, Police Chief Leslie Murray said the equipment is necessary to apprehend suspects, de-escalate tense encounters, and protect the safety of officers and the public.

“The availability of the equipment…enables the Downey Police Department to minimize risk to members of the community and officers during dynamic and unfolding high-risk incidents, maintain a state of readiness through continuous training and familiarity with such equipment, and strategically fulfills its mission to protect life and property,” Murray wrote.

California law requires cities and law enforcement agencies to release an inventory of its military equipment – as defined by the state – on an annual basis.

The Downey Police Department’s military inventory includes:

• 9 unmanned drones

• 1 armored vehicle

• 369 rounds of less than lethal ammunition

• 487 rounds of less than lethal shotgun rounds

• 1 launching cup to launch canisters of chemical agents or smoke

• 9 distraction devices

• 289 riot control grenades

• 4 pepperball launchers with 1,500 pepperball projectiles

• 29 Colt AR-15 carbine rifles, plus an additional 11 AR-15 rifles that are personally owned by officers

Drones

The department reported using unmanned aerial systems 32 times in 2022. Drones were used only twice in the first eight months of the year – Feb. 24 to search for a person who fled from a traffic stop and March 10 to search a business after a burglary alarm activation; drones were then used 30 times between Aug. 31 and the end of the year.

BearCat

Downey Police reported using its armored vehicle – also known as a BearCat – eight times in 2022, mostly to execute high-risk warrants. The vehicle was also used by detectives searching for a homicide suspect in Downey and San Pedro.

Less than Lethal

Police officers used non-lethal bean ban shotguns three times in 2022: two times in separate incidents to detain aggravated assault suspects, and once to detain an auto theft suspect.

Flash bang devices were used five times: once during a search warrant, three times to extract barricaded suspects, and another time to apprehend a robbery suspect.

Police reported no incidents in 2022 that required the use of pepperballs, chemical agents, smoke canisters or AR-15s.