A new law enforcement drone will be flying over Anaheim this June and could reach some calls before officers do.
As part of a month-long assessment of the Drones As First Responders program, drones operated by Anaheim Police Department Real Time Crime Center officers will launch from Anaheim City Hall East and respond to calls in central Anaheim before patrol officers arrive, the Anaheim Police Department posted Wednesday.
The department says the real-time aerial view from the drone can help officers assess situations faster, improve safety, support quicker response times and ensure the right resources are sent where they are needed most.
A new law enforcement drone will be flying over Anaheim this June. (Anaheim Police Department)
In some cases, officials hope the drone will show that a situation has already been resolved, allowing officers to remain available for other community needs and helping improve overall response times, the department said.
Police departments across the United States, including in Southern California, are increasingly turning to drones to fight crime.
A 2024 KTLA report highlighted the benefits of law enforcement drones but also raised concerns about privacy.
“Law enforcement likes to tout certain success stories,” said Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst with the American Civil Liberties Union. “But the real question is what the limits are going to be.”
Stanley argued that drones should only be deployed in genuine emergencies.
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