Pasadena police are asking the City Council to authorize a controlled explosive entry technique for SWAT officers and expand police drone use beyond SWAT operations to citywide public safety calls.
The requests are part of the department’s annual review of equipment classified as “military equipment” under state law. The council is scheduled to consider them Tuesday, along with renewal of the ordinance allowing police to continue using equipment previously approved by the city.
“PPD currently uses UAS for authorized SWAT operations and the PPD is requesting authorization to expand the use of UAS to citywide public safety operations,” according to a City staff report. “UAS provides personnel with the ability to obtain information from locations or perspectives that may otherwise expose officers, community members, or other emergency personnel to unnecessary risk.”
The proposed policy includes requirements for supervision, privacy protections, training and documentation, according to a report signed by Police Chief Eugene Harris.
Approving the drone policy would not authorize the department to buy additional drones beyond scheduled replacements. Purchases outside that scope would return to the council for review when required under state law.
The Community Police Oversight Commission recommended that both policies advance to the council.
Police adopted all 27 recommendations from a commission committee on the drone policy, the report says. The department agreed with or incorporated 26 of the committee’s 33 recommendations on explosive breaching. Seven were not adopted as written.
In its report covering July 2025 through June 2026, the department said it identified no policy violations involving military equipment. Public concerns were primarily about noise from its Bell OH-58 helicopters. Equipment-related costs during the reporting period totaled about $473,614, according to the report.
State law requires the council to review the department’s use of the equipment each year and vote on whether to renew its authorization.
The proposed entry technique, called energy assisted breaching, uses a controlled explosive charge to open a door or other barrier.
The Police Department says it would be limited to trained SWAT personnel during high-risk incidents when rapid entry is needed to protect life or prevent serious injury. Officers would be required to assess risks to people nearby and consider other ways to enter before using it.
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