Remotely operated drones will soon fly in the Irvine airspace, with the goal of responding to an emergency situation before the police.
Set to launch later this month, the “drone as first responder” pilot program will station two drones at a single flight location, ready to gather intelligence before and as officers arrive at a scene.
Irvine is partnering with major drone service provider Flying Lion to gauge the efficiency and impact of remotely operated drones in the city, said Sgt. Chris Bees.
“The pilot program is from an investment standpoint to measure the effectiveness,” said Councilmember Tammy Kim, who asked the Irvine Police Department to give a presentation about the program in September. “There isn’t a timeline. If the program is a success, we’ll invest in more drones.”
The pilot program will be funded through the Orange County Fire Authority’s unmanned aircraft system budget, established as part of the 2019 $50 million deal between the public safety agency and Irvine. About $100,000 will be allocated for the pilot program, said Kim.
Under Irvine’s current drone deployment model, team members made up of detectives and patrol officers carry a drone with them, Bees said. This approach requires police to first reach an incident location to deploy the drone, Bees said, incurring significant response and set-up time.
The new model stations the drones on the roof of a tall building with the pilot-in-command based in dispatch or a designated operating zone.
“The drones stand ready for immediate employment,” Bees said. “Their elevated position not only provides a broader view and increased range but also instantaneous aerial support.”
“DFR drones will not be actively patrolling the skies but will be on standby to provide essential support during emergencies,” he added.
Essential support includes de-escalation of a situation, Bees said. For example, he said, there was a situation in Chula Vista — where the DFR program…
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