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

  • AI to Help Resolve Non-Emergency Calls Across Utah and Decrease 911 Caller Wait Times

    The Utah Communications Authority (UCA), which oversees the state’s next generation 911 technology services, recently announced that public safety answering points (PSAPs) throughout the state plan to implement Motorola Solutions’ Virtual Response technology to automate the receipt and resolution of 10-digit non-emergency line calls in Utah with the help of AI. Read Now

  • Report: 2025 Video Surveillance Market Set to Grow After Small Decline in 2024

    Novaira Insights has unveiled its latest report, “World Market for Video Surveillance Hardware and Software – 2025 Edition.” The research indicates that the global market for video surveillance hardware and software experienced a slight decline of 0.3% in 2024. This performance fell short of previous forecasts, primarily due to a significant decrease of 7.8% in the Chinese market. Conversely, the rest of the world saw a growth of 4.9%. The global market for video surveillance equipment was estimated to be worth $25.0 billion in 2024. Read Now

  • Report Reveals Local Governments Face Surge in Ransomware Attacks with Minimal Resources

    KnowBe4, the cybersecurity platform that comprehensively addresses human risk management, recently released new research highlighting the critical cybersecurity challenges facing state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments. The report details how government organizations have become prime targets for cybercriminals while simultaneously facing severe resource constraints. Read Now

  • Video Surveillance Trends to Watch

    With more organizations adding newer capabilities to their surveillance systems, it’s always important to remember the “basics” of system configuration and deployment, as well as the topline benefits of continually emerging technologies like AI and the cloud. Read Now

  • 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

New Products

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.