La Mesa wants to add drones as first responders
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La Mesa is the latest city in San Diego County looking to deploy drones as first responders.
The big picture: Nearly every local law enforcement agency is flying drones to help solve crimes, and many have been doing so for years.
- Chula Vista's police department launched the nation's first drone first responder program, creating a model that El Cajon and Oceanside police later followed. Carlsbad police have also been testing out the tech.
Zoom in: La Mesa City Council approved a resolution this month to get $2 million through a federal grant for a one-year drone first responder project.
- The drones would launch for police and fire/EMS calls, providing real-time aerial video and data before personnel arrive at the scene.
- The drones would be also shared with Heartland Fire & Rescue, which serves East County cities, the Union-Tribune reported.
Between the lines: The goal is to shorten emergency response times and assist officers or firefighters during active crimes, traffic collisions, fires and major events like La Mesa Oktoberfest and farmers markets.
- The technology could also reduce use of force and improve de-escalation at the scene by showing officers what's going on before they arrive at an incident, the department's grant application says.
By the numbers: More than 220 drones are in the fleet across San Diego County law enforcement agencies, inewsource reported.
- Most cost thousands of dollars each, but they can range from a few hundred to nearly a quarter-million dollars.
Friction point: As more police drones take to the skies nationwide, cities and organizations have raised privacy, surveillance and transparency concerns.
What's next: Rep. Sara Jacobs' office submitted the project, along with 19 others, to get funded through Congress in upcoming appropriations bills for fiscal year 2027.