The Santa Ana City Council in Orange County, California, has officially approved a new Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program, giving police a faster way to respond to emergencies while placing firm limits on how the technology can be used.
The program includes the purchase of five drones and authorizes a three-year contract worth up to $682,900, funded through state and local law enforcement assistance grants. City leaders say the goal is simple: get officers better information, faster, while putting clear guardrails around how the technology is used.
Mayor Valerie Amezcua frames the move as a balance between innovation and accountability. She insists the DFR program will help officers respond more quickly, gather real-time information during emergencies, and even support de-escalation — without compromising constitutional rights or community trust.
Under the approved plan, Santa Ana’s drones won’t be roaming the skies looking for trouble. Instead, they’ll be launched only during clearly defined incidents where an aerial view can make a real difference.
That includes crimes in progress, searches for missing or at-risk persons, armed or barricaded suspect situations, pursuits, search-and-rescue operations, fires or hazardous incidents, and large-scale emergencies where officers need a quick overview. The drones may also help identify the source of illegal fireworks — an ongoing safety issue in many Southern California cities.
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The system relies on dock-based drones positioned strategically around the city. When a call comes in, a drone can be deployed almost immediately, streaming live video back to dispatchers, supervisors, and responding officers. That real-time view can help officers decide what resources are needed before they even arrive on scene.
The drones also include two-way communication, allowing officers to speak directly with people at the scene — victims, witnesses, or suspects — which city officials say could help calm situations before they escalate.
City leaders are equally explicit about what the program does not allow. The drones are unarmed and will not be used for general surveillance, facial recognition, biometric data collection, continuous public recording, or proactive patrols without a specific incident. They also won’t be used for immigration enforcement, code enforcement, or crowd monitoring unless there’s a qualifying public safety threat.
To lock those limits in place, SAPD will adopt a formal Unmanned Aerial Systems policy, complete with audit logs that record every drone flight. The city says those logs are key to maintaining transparency and accountability.
The department plans to use patrol drones from Skydio, including models capable of flying indoors and in tight spaces — a feature designed to help officers assess hazards during emergencies without putting themselves directly in harm’s way.
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