The San Diego Police Department acquired three more drones and two pepper ball launchers in 2025, adding to its already formidable arsenal of military equipment.
A 2021 state law requires law enforcement agencies to report on their purchase of military equipment to their local governing body, which has to review and approve it. Law enforcement agencies issue an annual report on how much and what types of equipment they have.
The most recent report for 2025 says the department has 44 drones (19 different types) and six robots. It has a vast array of firearms, chemical agents, and less-lethal weaponry and ammunition.
In addition to two armored personnel carrier type vehicles purchased years ago, the report says the department is purchasing a third “Tac-Cat” using $365,000 donated by the San Diego SWAT Association.
The manufacturer says the rig will “penetrate and remove fences, punch through walls or doors, and deliver tear gas to the interior of a structure in one downrange operation. The attached claw makes quick work of just about any wall, door, or other barrier that suspects use for cover. Narcotics teams will use the unit’s claw for pulling armored doors off drug houses, and individuals will be rescued as the TAC-CAT provides cover for responding officers and paramedics.”
The arsenal accounts for 0.15 percent of the department’s $718 million budget this year, the report notes.