LONG BEACH, CA — Four rifles purchased by the Long Beach Police Department more than a decade ago were deployed during police incidents but never included in the department's military equipment inventories, according to newly released records and information obtained by Patch.
The four Accuracy International AX .308 rifles, acquired in 2014 at a combined cost of $28,000, were discovered to be missing from the department's documented inventory during an April 2026 audit. Their omission was disclosed in the department's 2025 Annual Military Equipment Report, which is scheduled for review by the City Council on Nov. 17.
Officer Eric Stachura, a department spokesperson, confirmed to Patch that the rifles had been deployed during police incidents since their purchase, although he did not specify how frequently they were used or whether they had ever been fired.
"These rifles were not included in past inventories due to an oversight which was identified during the most recent review," Stachura said in an emailed response to questions from Patch.
The department has since added the rifles to its proposed military equipment special order and is taking steps to prevent similar discrepancies.
"Upon learning of the discrepancy, the Department promptly reviewed the AB 481 inventory, and we are currently implementing review processes to strengthen procedures for inventory counts to ensure accuracy," Stachura said.
The disclosure comes as Long Beach prepares for its annual review of police equipment regulated under Assembly Bill 481, a California law enacted in 2021 that established additional public oversight of certain weapons, armored vehicles, drones and other equipment used by law enforcement agencies. The legislation requires departments to obtain approval from their governing bodies for covered equipment and publish annual reports detailing inventories, acquisitions, costs, deployments and complaints.
Although the four rifles were purchased seven years before the law was enacted, their omission from subsequent inventories raises questions about how the department accounted for equipment already in its possession. The 2025 report states that no military equipment policy violations were documented during the reporting year and that the department received no formal complaints or objections concerning its use of such equipment.
The report also reveals changes in how the department accounts for its AR-15 rifles, including a significant difference in reported usage between 2024 and 2025. Although the latest report lists 301 instances of AR-15 use, Stachura clarified that every one involved training rather than an operational incident.
"The change in reported numbers from 2024 to 2025 is due to the department including AR-15 training usage in overall reporting," he said.
AR-15 rifles were deployed in the field 68 times during 2025, but none were discharged during those operations, according to Stachura. The department's inventory of personally owned AR-15 rifles also declined from 360 in 2024 to 228 in 2025, a reduction of 132 rifles, or approximately 37%.
Stachura said the decrease may be attributable to officer retirements or improved inventory tracking, although the department did not identify a definitive cause. Police also acknowledged an error in the latest report's training section, which incorrectly labels external training courses as occurring in 2026 rather than 2025.
The department does not anticipate significant changes to its military equipment policy ahead of the Nov. 17 City Council review, Stachura said.
Residents can examine the department's military equipment policies and annual reports and submit questions or concerns to AB481@longbeach.gov. Public comment will also be accepted during the council meeting.
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