Santa Ana City Council approves police drone program to enhance public safety

The Drone as a First Responder system will improve police response times while being limited to specific incident uses.

SANTA ANA, Calif. - The Santa Ana City Council has approved the implementation of a Drone as a First Responder (DFR) system and the purchase of five drones by the Santa Ana Police Department, marking a significant step forward in the City's use of modern technology to enhance public safety while maintaining transparency and accountability.

This approval on Feb. 3, 2026, authorizes the City Manager to execute a three-year contract in an amount not to exceed $682,900. The program will be funded through State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance (SLESA) grants.

"This program allows the City to responsibly use technology to improve public safety while respecting community values," Mayor Valerie Amezcua said. "Drone as a First Responder tools can help the Santa Ana Police Department respond more quickly to emergencies, gather critical information in real time, and support de-escalation efforts - all while maintaining strong oversight, transparency and protection of residents' constitutional rights."

How the drones will be used

The new drones will help SAPD improve response times by providing real-time observation for specific, defined incidents when needed. Drones may be used for situations such as:

• Crimes in progress
• Missing or at-risk persons
• Armed or barricaded subjects
• Pursuits
• Identifying use of illegal fireworks
• Search and rescue
• Fire, disaster and hazardous incidents
• Large-scale incidents requiring an aerial overview

How the drones will NOT used

The drones are unarmed and will NOT be used for:

• A general surveillance program
• Facial recognition
• Collection of biometric data
• Continuously recording the public
• Proactive patrols without a specific incident
• Immigration enforcement
• Code enforcement
• Crowd surveillance without a qualifying public safety threat

SAPD will adopt an Unmanned Aerial Systems policy that provides the framework for the use the drones, maximizing provisions that safeguard the community's Constitutional rights and to ensure transparency and accountability. The drone system includes audit logs that will maintain a record of all drone activity.

The Drone as a First Responder system uses strategically placed, dock-based drones that can be rapidly deployed across the city. Live video from the drones will assist dispatchers, supervisors and responding officers in assessing incidents as they unfold, improving coordination and decision-making. The drones are also equipped with two-way communication capabilities, allowing officers to communicate with individuals on scene, including victims, witnesses, and suspects.

In addition to outdoor response capabilities, the Skydio R10 patrol drones can be flown indoors and in confined spaces, enabling officers to identify potential hazards from a safe distance during emergencies without direct face-to-face exposure to threats.

Similar drone programs are already in use by most other Orange County cities. Santa Ana is one of four Orange County cities that do not have in-house drone capability.

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