Amid an ongoing officer shortage, the Los Angeles Police Department is enhancing its operational efficiency and reducing response times by doubling its drone fleet, which will become a permanent fixture this week.
The nation’s third-largest police force has increasingly utilized these unmanned aircraft since initiating a “drone as a first responder” pilot program last July. Now, department leaders are expanding the initiative and making it official.
In a conversation with The California Post, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell emphasized that the added drones, alongside the department’s well-known black-and-white helicopters, have strengthened their crime-fighting capabilities.
“Reducing response time for emergency calls and using drones as a force multiplier is crucial for our lean department,” McDonnell stated. “Their operation has been impressive.”
He noted that drones have yielded positive results, enhancing safety at major events like the World Cup and aiding officers in resolving dangerous situations and crimes more swiftly.
The drone fleet is expanding from 13 to 26 electric units. These aircraft assist first responders and occasionally enforce flight-restriction zones.
According to a report presented to the Police Commission in April, LAPD drones were deployed over 3,000 times last year, primarily for emergency calls or officer assistance requests.
The drones, operated by FAA-certified officers from desktop computers at police headquarters, are often sent to high-crime areas. An online dashboard indicates LAPD drones completed 26 missions on Thursday alone.
Each drone, powered by four rotors, measures about a foot wide and is equipped with video cameras and infrared night vision. They launch from rooftop sites across the city, with two additional units utilizing portable launch sites.
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Once in the air, the drones can travel at approximately 40 miles per hour, providing officers with a rapid overview of crime scenes to determine the necessary response. McDonnell noted the drones’ popularity among officers.
“They offer a wider perspective than usual,” he explained. “You can spot people on rooftops or someone running down an alley you might have missed otherwise.”
Footage from an LAPD drone mission shows the aircraft locating a 5-year-old child who had wandered near traffic, enabling police to quickly send a cruiser for the child’s rescue on July 7.
McDonnell mentioned that drones have played a role in responding to homicides, kidnappings, burglaries, and more.
He noted that drones often reach crime scenes before officers, arriving first in about 73% of cases. In 11% of instances, an officer response is deemed unnecessary after the drone assessment.
The LAPD plans to use drones for street takeover responses and anti-fireworks missions during holidays like the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve.
Other police departments in LA County, such as Beverly Hills, already have extensive drone programs. The plan to expand LAPD’s fleet emerged after a series of high-profile burglaries on the city’s Westside last year.
McDonnell expressed confidence in the program’s effectiveness, stating it helps allocate resources efficiently, prepare officers for crime scenes, and track suspects.
“We can identify suspect vehicles, license plates, and descriptions,” he said. “It captures evidence and sends it back to the control center via video.”
The drones are designed to complement, not replace, the LAPD’s fleet of 17 helicopters, which patrol and respond to emergencies, with at least two in the air for about 20 hours daily.
According to police officials, the drones are used for crime responses, not surveillance. The LAPD website features a drone-as-first responder dashboard with flight paths, and the department’s drone policy is available online.
The video recording policy for drones mirrors that of body-worn cameras, capturing footage only as drones arrive and while the scenes are active.
McDonnell stated that drones are not used to identify individuals at protests.
“In protest situations, we only use them to assess crowd size or focus on acts of violence, then target individuals once a crime is committed,” he said.
