Lompoc Police Launch Drone Program to Support Officers on Emergency Calls
The department's Drone as First Responder program sends aircraft from a rooftop station to urgent calls within a three-mile radius, providing aerial views to officers on the ground.
Lompoc police officers now have eyes in the sky when they respond to emergency calls. The department's new Drone as First Responder program has been operating for about two months, dispatching aircraft from a docking station on the police station roof to urgent calls within a three-mile radius.
Community service officer Jeremy Byron, one of two certified drone pilots, can launch the aircraft toward a call location through its flight system. The pilot monitors the camera feed and relays information to officers on the ground. The system is designed to make it easy for the operator to click on a location and send the drone directly there.
How the Program Works
Police Chief Kevin Martin told City Council the drones only fly on hot calls or 911 calls and return to the station once officers no longer need aerial support. The camera faces forward as the drone travels to help avoid capturing views of nearby homes. The system also prevents drones from entering the airport's no-fly zone.
The two-year pilot program is projected to cost about $426,000, including drones, software and staffing. Most funding is expected to come from a state grant, with the city contributing roughly $100,000. The department is tracking response times and how often drones help resolve calls without an officer needing to arrive, with results expected at the end of the year.
Flight information is available on a public transparency dashboard. The department currently has two community service officers certified as drone pilots and is hiring a third. For more on local government decisions, visit /news.
Facts via KSBY.
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