Did Santa Ana greenlight a drone program? City leaders say no, but their policy says yes

Santa Ana city leaders voted 4-3 on Tuesday to affirm their support for the city’s military equipment policy — despite community opposition.

The vote means the Santa Ana Police Department can continue using weapons, including less-lethal bean bag shotgun rounds, drones and armored vehicles. But the policy has its critics.

“For what purpose does a local police department need that?” Abraham Quintana, a local community organizer told LAist ahead of the meeting.

The vote comes as the city grapples to balance its status as the only so-called “Sanctuary City” in Orange County with a police force seen by some critics as overpolicing its residents.

Now that the council has approved the military equipment policy, the Police Department is allowed to seek funding for and request surplus military