camera drone

How Police Forces Are Using Drones to Keep Officers Out of The Line of Fire

California law enforcement is praising the use of drones and high-definition video surveillance to track suspects and strategize police responses.

A police force in northern California is using drone technology and high-definition video to help officers navigate dangerous situations, including a standoff with a man suspected of shooting at his family members.

Earlier this month, the police department in Pittsburg, California used a drone to help survey a showdown with 58-year-old Ronald Ball, who barricaded himself in his home after family members said he fired a gun at them during an argument, The East Bay Times reported.

After five hours, Ball exited his house and was peacefully taken into custody. There were no injuries, in part because of the remote-controlled drones, police told the Times.

“We were able to use the drones to determine where the doors and windows were in the backyard to relay that to the SWAT team so they could make decisions about how they were going to do the SWAT operation,” Nicholas Law, who heads his department’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle program, told the Times.

Law added: “It allows a different perspective on the incident … We were recording everything that was going on from the sky. Body cameras are from one perspective; with this, you can get more of a broad perspective.”

The number of drones in use by police departments across the country is expanding rapidly, prompting some backlash from communities who fear that the drones will be used for surveillance and violate privacy rights.

Oakland adopted an ordinance in May that imposes strong regulations on the city’s use of surveillance devices, including drones. That measure requires approval from the city council and a separate commission to use any surveillance technology on residents, according to Gizmodo.

But, while other cities like Berkeley and Davis have followed in Oakland’s footsteps, the program in Pittsburg has not earned as much public outrage. Law attributes this to the department’s policy that drones are used only in specific incidents rather than for “routine surveillance,” the Times reported.

“We haven’t gotten that pushback because we’ve been transparent,” Law said. “We aren’t trying to watch people. It’s not for covert reasons. It’s to protect people.”

Since the department bought the drone three years ago, Pittsburg police have used drones to help locate missing people, monitor significant fires and track a suspect as he fled from a backyard after stealing a vehicle, Law told the Times. In the future, Law foresees it being used for marine rescues.

At a significantly lower cost than helicopter surveillance and the progress of image quality in drone cameras, Law and other law enforcement officers see drones as a powerful tool to keep officers out of the line of fire and better prepare a police response, according to the Times.

“This technology is becoming more commonplace in law enforcement,” said Tammany Brooks, the chief of the Antioch Police Department, which also uses drones. “They are amazing tools that work as a tremendous force multiplier for us.”

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services
  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.