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

  • Facing Facts for Facilities

    Despite the proliferation of constantly evolving security solutions, there remains a troubling trend among many facility operators who often neglect the most important security assets within their organization. Keys and shared devices like radios, laptops and tablets are crucial to successful operations, yet many operators are managing them haphazardly through outdated storage systems like pegboards and notebooks. Read Now

  • Report Reveals Security Training Reduces Global Phishing Click Rates by 86%

    KnowBe4, the cybersecurity platform that comprehensively addresses human risk management, today launched its “Phishing by Industry Benchmarking Report 2025” which measures an organization’s Phish-prone Percentage (PPP) — the percentage of employees likely to fall for social engineering or phishing attacks, indicating the organization’s overall susceptibility to phishing threats. This year’s report found a global average baseline PPP of 33.1%, meaning a third of employees interact with phishing simulations before taking part in best-practice security awareness training (SAT).COVER 2025-PIB-NA-Report_EN-US Read Now

  • TSA Begins REAL ID Full Enforcement Today

    Today, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced the imminent implementation of its REAL ID enforcement measures at TSA checkpoints nationwide. Read Now

  • Body-Worn Cameras on the Rise

    On the evening of Oct. 29, 2024, the owner of 300 Guard based in Houston, was shot while on duty at a convenience store. He returned fire. He was wearing a plated vest and thankfully recovered in the hospital. Read Now

  • Brazil Port Enhances Surveillance and Supports Wildlife Conservation with Sustainable Technology

    Ferroport, which operates the iron ore terminal at the Port of Açu in São João da Barra, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has deployed state-of-the-art video surveillance cameras from Axis Communications to enhance nighttime security and visibility, while decreasing environmental impact and prioritizing sustainability. With cutting-edge technology, the port now has precise surveillance cameras that capture high-quality nighttime images, while reducing the amount of artificial lighting that negatively impacts the surrounding ecosystem. Read Now

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.