Facing an ongoing officer shortage, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) announced it is doubling its drone fleet to improve response times and crime-fighting efficiency. The department is making its "drone as a first responder" pilot program permanent.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell stated that the expanded fleet will help the department decrease response times to emergency calls and act as a "force multiplier" for its lean staffing. The drones have already demonstrated effectiveness, assisting in defusing dangerous situations and solving crimes more rapidly. The fleet will grow from 13 to 26 electric drones, supplementing the department's existing helicopter operations.
Last year, LAPD drones were deployed over 3,000 times, primarily in response to emergency calls or requests for assistance. The drones are controlled by FAA-certified officers at police headquarters and are frequently deployed to high-crime areas. An online dashboard tracks drone activity, with the department reporting 26 drone missions on a single recent Thursday.
The unmanned aircraft, approximately a foot wide, are equipped with video cameras and infrared night vision. They launch from rooftop sites and can travel up to 40 miles per hour, providing aerial perspectives of crime scenes to help officers assess situations and dispatch appropriate resources. McDonnell noted that drones offer a broader perspective, allowing officers to identify individuals on rooftops or fleeing down alleys.
Footage released by the LAPD showed a drone locating a 5-year-old child who had wandered away from their family and was near traffic, leading to a rapid rescue. Drones have also been deployed in response to homicides, kidnappings, and burglaries. According to McDonnell, drones arrive at crime scenes first approximately 73% of the time, and in 11% of cases, drone deployment determined that an officer response was not necessary.
The department plans to use drones for responding to street takeovers and for anti-fireworks missions during holidays like the Fourth of July and New Year's Eve. The expansion of the LAPD's drone program was reportedly initiated last year following a series of high-profile burglaries on the city's Westside.
McDonnell emphasized the drones' effectiveness in resource deployment, preparing officers for crime scenes, and tracking suspects. The aircraft can identify suspect vehicles, license plates, suspect descriptions, and directional movements, transmitting video evidence to the control center. The drones are intended to augment, not replace, the LAPD's fleet of 17 helicopters.
LAPD officials stated that the drones are used to respond to crimes rather than conduct general surveillance. The department's policy, posted online, specifies that drone footage is recorded only when drones are approaching crime scenes and while scenes are active, similar to policies for body-worn cameras. Drones are not used for identifying individuals involved in protests, except to assess crowd size or focus on those committing acts of violence during a crime.