Military Equipment For Murrieta Police: Public Invited To Discuss

MURRIETA, CA — The Murrieta Police Department is seeking to add to its arsenal of military equipment, and the public is invited to ask questions and discuss.

During the upcoming fiscal year 2023-24, which begins July 1, the department is hoping to purchase two unmanned aerial systems, one robot, one bolt-action rifle, 10 diversionary devices (such as flashbangs), and 20 projectile launchers. Depending on the exact equipment, the initial cost would be between $92,900 and $244,000 based on figures provided in the department's 2022 Annual Military Equipment Report.

On May 16, the police department submitted the report to the Murrieta City Council for review and it was approved. Under state law, all California police agencies are required to provide an annual public accounting of military equipment and a local governing body must sign off on the inventory and requests for added stock.

Additionally, the law requires at least one community engagement meeting to allow the public to discuss and ask questions about a department's military equipment. In Murrieta, that meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday, June 9, in the Murrieta Police Department's Community Room (2 Town Square). Questions about the Murrieta Police Department's use of military equipment can be directed to Lieutenant Jeremy Durrant ahead of time at [email protected] or 951-461-6317.

"If you are unable to attend the meeting but still have questions, you are welcome to reach out at any time," the Murrieta Police Department shared on social media.

The police department's 2022 report shows MPD currently has more than 250 pieces of military equipment including an armored vehicle, 52 military-grade rifles and shotguns, 11 projectile launchers and 134 chemical grenades.

From May 3, 2022, to December 31, 2022, military equipment was deployed just twice by the police department, according to the report. During the same period, the Murrieta PD responded to 39,745 calls for service per the department's Records Management System.

"Military equipment was deployed operationally on approximately 0.00005% of incidents the police department responded to," according to the agency.

Below is the current inventory of Murrieta PD's military equipment per the published 2022 report: