Ordinance renewing Carlsbad Police Department’s military equipment policy.

Summary of Ordinance No. CS-513 per Government Code §36933(c) AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, RENEWING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT’S MILITARY EQUIPMENT POLICY California Government Code Sections 7070 through 7075, require law enforcement agencies to obtain approval of the governing body, by an ordinance adopting a military equipment use policy at a regular meeting held pursuant to open meeting laws, prior to taking certain actions relating to the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment and to review the ordinance annually and vote on whether to renew it. On May 10, 2022, the City Council adopted Ordinance CS-421 adopting the Police Department’s Military Equipment Policy (Carlsbad Police Department Policy 708). The City Council reviewed and adopted Carlsbad Police Department Policy 708 in 2023 (Ordinance CS-447), 2024 (Ordinance CS-469), and 2025 (Ordinance CS-489). The City of Carlsbad is in possession of certain pieces of equipment which are defined as “military equipment” under California Government Code Section 7070. In order to promote public safety, civil rights, and officer safety, the Carlsbad Police Department desires to continue using, seeking funding for, acquiring, and collaborating, when necessary, with other law enforcement agencies in the use of, military equipment, as described in Carlsbad Police Department Policy 708. Carlsbad Police Department Policy 708 and Carlsbad Police Department’s 2025 Military Equipment Report are posted to the Carlsbad Police Department’s website. This ordinance adopts Carlsbad Police Department Policy 708 – Military Equipment. The City Council also determines: The military equipment identified in Carlsbad Police Department Policy 708 is necessary because there is no reasonable alternative that can achieve the same objective of officer and civilian safety; The Military Equipment Policy contained in Carlsbad Police Department Policy 708 will safeguard the public's welfare, safety, civil rights, and civil liberties; The military equipment identified in Carlsbad Police Department Policy 708 is reasonably cost effective compared to available alternatives that can achieve the same objective of officer and civilian safety; and Prior military equipment use complied with the applicable equipment use policy (which included equipment now defined as military equipment) that was in effect at the time, or if prior uses that did not comply with the applicable equipment use policy, corrective action. This ordinance authorizes the Carlsbad Police Department to seek funds for military equipment described in Carlsbad Police Department Policy 708, acquire military equipment described in Carlsbad Police Department Policy 708, collaborate with another law enforcement agency in the deployment or other use of military equipment within Carlsbad, use any new or existing military equipment as provided in Carlsbad Police Department Policy 708, and solicit or respond to a proposal for, or enter into an agreement for funding, acquisition, use of, or collaboration for use of military equipment described in Carlsbad Police Department Policy 708. A certified copy of the full text of the proposed ordinance is posted in the Office of the City Clerk, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008.Publish Date: April 23, 2026City of Carlsbad | City CouncilSan Diego Union-TribunePublished: 4/23/26