Elected leaders just approved a first-reading ordinance on the military equipment use policy for the Ripon Police Department.

So, what’s the definition of military equipment?

Ripon City Councilman Leo Zuber asked just that to police Chief Ed Ormonde at Tuesday’s monthly meeting.

Try drones, the unmanned aircraft system used by police to provide situational awareness and additional information to officers on the ground.

“Even though they are not military grade – because the military uses drones – they’re considered military equipment,” Ormonde said.

The adoption of military equipment use policy to the Ripon Municipal Code was necessitated by Assembly Bill 481, which requires the City to adopt a policy regarding the funding, acquisition, and the use of military equipment by local police.

Ormonde pointed out that the use of a policy must be approved by ordinance, and that policy must be approved through a resolution.

Several years ago, police received a drone donation – DJI Phantom 4 Pro and a DJI Inspire 2 UAV plus hardware and accessories – from the Diamond Pet Food Company as technology to help ensure public safety.

Ormonde said back then that police would use the drone to work in partnership with the Ripon Fire Consolidated District in searching out missing or lost people, but not to assist in patrol.