HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-07-23; Update on Police Department's UAS Drone Program (Districts - All); Calderwood, ChristieTo the members of th~:
CITY COUNCIL
Date 7 23 2 CA ✓ CC ✓
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Council Memorandum
July 23, 2026
To:
From:
Via: Geoff Patnoe, City Manager ~
{city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID# 2026038
Re:
Honorable Mayor Blackburn and Members of the City Council
Christie Calderwood, Chief of~P • e
Update on Police Departmen s UAS Drone Program (Districts -All)
This memorandum provides information regarding the Carlsbad Police Department's Drone
Program and recent success stories that have had a positive impact on not only the Police
Department, but also the community we serve. The Carlsbad Police Department's Unmanned
Aerial System (UAS} Program provides significant public safety benefits to both the Police
Department and the community by enhancing Officer safety, improving emergency response
capabilities, and increasing operational efficiency while maintaining a strong commitment to
privacy, transparency, and accountability.
Background
The Carlsbad Police Department established its Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS} Program
in 2017 following a SWAT response to a reported active shooter incident that exposed Officers to
significant risk while clearing a large open area with limited cover. The incident demonstrated
the value of using drones to rapidly assess hazardous environments, provide real-time
intelligence, and reduce the need to place Officers in danger before sufficient information is
available.
The department also recognized that UAS technology offers benefits beyond tactical operations.
Unlike a traditional law enforcement helicopter, which may be delayed by availability or travel
time, department-operated drones can often be deployed within seconds by Officers already on
scene. This provides cost-effective aerial situational awareness and supports better decision
making during rapidly evolving incidents.
Originally a collateral assignment within the SWAT Team, the program has grown into a
department-wide public safety resource. Trained Patrol Officers now deploy drones for missing
person searches, crime scene documentation, collision investigations, perimeter security, search
and rescue, disaster and fire response, criminal investigations, and other incidents where
enhanced situational awareness improves Officer and public safety. Most recently, the
department launched a pilot Drone as First Responder (DFR} Program serving the downtown
area, allowing drones to respond to certain emergency calls ahead of Officers when feasible and
provide critical real-time intelligence.
Police Department
2560 Orion Way I Carlsbad, CA 92010 I 442-339-2216 t
Council Memo -Update on Police Department's UAS Drone Program (Districts -All)
July 23, 2026
Page 2
The department recognizes the privacy considerations associated with UAS operations and has
adopted comprehensive policies (Police Department Policy 345) to ensure all deployments
comply with FAA regulations, constitutional protections, state and federal law, and department
policy.
Except when authorized by a search warrant or legally recognized exigent circumstances,
Operators do not intentionally record or transmit images of areas where individuals have a
reasonable expectation of privacy, such as residences or enclosed yards. Operators are required
to take reasonable precautions, including deactivating cameras or directing them away from
protected areas when appropriate.
Department policy prohibits the use of drones for random or generalized surveillance and forbids
targeting individuals based solely on protected characteristics such as race, ethnicity, national
origin, religion, disability, gender, or sexual orientation. All deployments must serve a legitimate
public safety purpose.
All UAS Team members are FAA-certified remote pilots who complete department-approved
training before operating department drones. They participate in bi-monthly training to maintain
proficiency, review regulatory updates, inspect equipment, practice operational scenarios, and
evaluate deployments to improve program performance.
The department maintains strict accountabilities for all UAS operations through documented
flight logs, operational checklists, risk assessments, maintenance records, and secure
management of digital evidence. The program also undergoes biannual audits to verify
compliance with department policy, training requirements, equipment accountability, and
documentation standards.
Discussion
Throughout January to June 2026, the Police Department has utilized a drone to respond to calls
a total of 722 times and conducted 182 training flights. The Drone Program is providing
operational, safety, and cost benefits to the Police Department. Patrol Officers assigned to the
Drone Team can respond to calls in their area of responsibility and deploy the drone quickly,
assisting other Officers with situational awareness, real time information and the ability to assess
and create a plan prior to engaging in a potentially dangerous or unknown situation.
Drone as First Responder (DFR) trial period
A DFR drone is a drone that is docked in a strategic location and is designed to respond quickly to
emergency calls. These drones are prepositioned at strategic docking stations in the city and are
controlled from a remote location. The drones can launch automatically or remotely when a
9-1-1 call is received, often arriving on scene minutes before ground units.
Council Memo -Update on Police Department's UAS Drone Program (Districts -All}
July 23, 2026
Page 3
As a trial to assess the feasibility and benefit of UAS as a First Responder, the Police Department
has been conducting flights in the downtown area in response to calls for service. The trial period
has been running since September 2025 with an average of one to two days a week staffed by
the DFR team. During that time, the drone made 195 flights and cleared 64 calls without an
Officer having to respond. The average time for the drone to arrive on scene at the call is
approximately 95 seconds. The statistics during this time frame indicate that the drone can clear,
on average, 33% of calls prior to an Officer's arrival.
This not only provides cost savings, but it also keeps Officers clear for other calls, which directly
impacts response times.
Benefits to the Drone Program include:
• Improved Officer safety: Drones have been proven to assess potentially dangerous
situations, such as barricaded suspects, hazardous materials incidents, and active crime
scenes, from a distance before Officers approach.
• Faster search and rescue: Drones can locate missing people, to include hikers, children or
individuals with medical conditions more quickly, especially at night or in difficult terrain.
The department has seen evidence of this with people lost hiking or injured along
Calavera Lake.
• Better Situational Awareness: Drones are a game changer in this respect. Aerial views
provide the incident commander and supervision with real time information during
incidents like fires, traffic collisions, protests, natural disasters or suspects that are not
cooperative with Police, helping coordinate resources more effectively.
• Traffic and crash documentation: Drones can quickly capture overhead imagery of
collision scenes, allowing Investigators to create accurate maps while reducing the
amount of time roads remain closed.
• Crime scene documentation: Drones can get a comprehensive view of an entire crime
scene much quicker.
• Low operating costs: Compared to helicopters, drones are generally much less expensive
and much faster to deploy. While the department relies heavily on the Sheriff's
Department's and San Diego Police Department's Air Units, many times a peaceful
resolution can be achieved by deploying the drone instead of calling for a helicopter.
• Public Safety at large events: During the Street Faires, Marathon, Concerts in the Park,
etc., drones have been helpful in monitoring unruly people, identify hazards and support
emergency planning, ultimately keeping the events safe.
The following are just some of the recent success stories from 2026 so far, where the city's
Officers were able to use drone coverage to provide a peaceful resolution, cut down on response
times and assist in overall Officer safety:
Council Memo -Update on Police Department's UAS Drone Program (Districts -All)
July 23, 2026
Page 4
Case 26-0318 (DFR Trial)
The drone was deployed to the beach after an intoxicated subject was reported on the
sand, disturbing other citizens. The drone was able to locate the suspect and keep eyes
on him, prior to Officers arriving and provided overwatch while the subject was taken into
custody and placed under arrest.
Case 26-01893 (DFR Trial)
The drone assisted with a foot pursuit from Firestone across El Camino Real to the south
end of Vons shopping center, providing continuous location updates as Officers pursed
the suspect on foot that was wanted for theft from Sephora at the mall. The subject was
taken into custody.
Case 26-02090 (DFR Trial)
The drone was deployed to the area of a License Plate Reader notification where three
suspects were wanted after being involved in a carjacking. The drone was able to locate
the vehicle that had pulled into a gas station and Officers ultimately arrived safely taking
all three suspects into custody.
Case 26-02622 (DFR Trial)
The drone responded to the area of a license plate reader notification involving a suspect
wanted for assault with a deadly weapon, terrorist threats and elder abuse who was
driving the victim's vehicle. The drone was able to locate the vehicle and provide an exact
location for incoming Officers to take the suspect into custody.
Case 26-0335
The drone was deployed and was able to locate a suspect's vehicle in a busy parking lot
and kept overwatch while Officers that had probable cause to arrest the suspect for
felony domestic violence devised a plan to effectively take the suspect into custody.
Case 26-01240
The drone assisted Detectives with a courier scam where the suspect was taking
advantage of an elderly victim and had the victim agree to give the suspect a large sum of
money. Via the drone, Officers were able to observe the hand-off of the victim's money
to the suspect, which lead to a foot pursuit and successful arrest.
Case 26-01861
The drone assisted the Traffic Division in locating a suspect who fled on an e-motorcycle
after a pursuit was terminated due to safety concerns. While surveilling the suspect's
residence in Oceanside, the drone observed the subject riding an e-motorcycle matching
the one involved in the incident, providing critical evidence for a search warrant to
impound the juvenile's motorcycle after he fled from Officers multiple times.
Council Memo -Update on Police Department's UAS Drone Program (Districts -All}
July 23, 2026
Page 5
Case 26-02622
Officers initiated a traffic stop of a vehicle occupied by two subjects. The driver of the
vehicle fled on foot upon being contacted by the Officers. The passenger was found to be
in possession of a firearm, and information indicated the driver was possibly armed as
well. Officers were able to pursue the driver on foot with the assistance of the drone
when he resorted to hiding in a residential neighborhood within a resident's trash can.
This became a full SWAT callout, with residents being instructed to shelter-in-place due to
the dangers associated with a potentially armed barricaded suspect.
Case 26-02874
Drones were deployed to provide continuous overwatch of a barricaded suspect armed
with a weapon inside of his vehicle after he fled the scene of a felony domestic violence
incident. This was the night of both high school graduations in the north end of the city.
Next Steps
The Police Department will continue to deploy unmanned aircraft systems (UAS}, commonly
referred to as drones, to enhance Officer safety, improve response times, and reduce risks to the
community. The UAS program provides Officers and dispatch personnel with real-time aerial
video, enabling more effective incident assessment, supporting the resolution of appropriate low
risk calls without the need to deploy additional resources when feasible, and improving
situational awareness during high-risk active incidents.
The Police Department remains committed to providing ongoing training for personnel and
ensuring all UAS operations are conducted in accordance with established policies, applicable
laws, and industry best practices. These measures help ensure the technology is deployed safely,
responsibly, and effectively in support of the Police Department's mission to protect life,
preserve public safety, and serve the community.
Attachment: A. Carlsbad Police Department Policy 345
cc: Sheila Cobian, Assistant City Manager
Cindie McMahon, City Attorney
Ryan Opeka, Assistant Chief of Police
Attachment A
Policy Carlsbad Police Department
345 Carlsbad PD Policy Manual
Unmanned Aerial System {UAS ) Operations
345.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for the use of an unmanned aerial system
(UAS) and for the storage, retrieval and dissemination of images and data captured by the UAS.
345.2 DEFINITION
Definitions related to this policy include:
Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) -An unmanned aircraft of any type that is capable of sustaining
directed flight, whether preprogrammed or remotely controlled (commonly referred to as an
unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)), and all of the supporting or attached systems designed for
gathering information through imaging, recording or any other means.
345.3 POLICY
Unmanned aerial systems may be utilized to enhance the department's mission of protecting lives
and property when other means and resources are not available or are less effective. Any use
of a UAS will be in strict accordance with constitutional and privacy rights and Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) regulations.
345.4 PRIVACY
The use of the UAS potentially involves privacy considerations. Absent a warrant or exigent
circumstances, operators and observers shall adhere to FAA altitude regulations and shall not
intentionally record or transmit images of any location where a person would have a reasonable
expectation of privacy (e.g., residence, yard, enclosure). Operators and observers shall take
reasonable precautions to avoid inadvertently recording or transmitting images of areas where
there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. Reasonable precautions can include, for example,
deactivating or turning imaging devices away from such areas or persons during UAS operations.
345.5 REGULATORY MANAGER
The Chief of Police will appoint a regulatory manager who will be responsible for the management
of the UAS program. The regulatory manager will ensure that policies and procedures conform to
current laws, regulations and best practices. The regulatory manager shall ensure that established
protocols are followed by monitoring and providing bi-annual reports on the program to the Chief
of Police. These reports shall include flight documentation, program training, and verification that
all documentation has been completed appropriately.
345.6 USE OF UAS
(a) Prior to any flight, an operator shall verify that all FAA requirements are met.
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(b) All authorized operators and required observers must have completed all required
FAA and department-approved training in the operation, applicable laws, policies, and
procedures regarding use of the UAS.
Prior to any flight, an operator shall perform the following:
(a) 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Conduct a parts check to ensure that all parts on the UAS are in good serviceable
order.
Ensure that the remote controller, flight battery, and mobile devices are properly
charged.
Ensure that the camera and gimbal are clear from obstructions and operate
correctly prior to flight.
Ensure that the propellers are secured properly and that the motors and
propellers operate normally.
Ensure that all software associated with the UAS is current.
Ensure that the flight area is outside of no-fly zones and flight conditions are
suitable for flying.
Ensure that the operator is not flying under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or
other substance that could impair the operator's cognitive abilities.
(c) Prior to flight all operators should use the appropriate UAS software checklist. If that
checklist produces a total rating of 80 percent or greater for risk, the operator should
get supervisor approval prior to flight.
( d) After a completed flight, all operators shall conduct a post flight inspection that includes
but is not limited to the following:
1. Ensure that all power is off to the remote controller, flight battery and mobile
devices.
2. Inspect the drone for damage to include but not limited to landing gear, wiring
to batteries, propellers and all connections.
3. Download and transfer all recorded data to the appropriate storage medium and
storage platform.
4. Verify that all logs, checklists and risk assessments are completed.
(e) Fully document all missions in a department approved manner.
(f) Conduct maintenance and properly document these inspections to ensure continuing
airworthiness of a UAS, up to and including its overhaul or life limits.
(g) Use of vision enhancement technology (e.g., thermal and other imaging equipment
not generally available to the public) is permissible in viewing areas only where there
is no protectable privacy interest, or when in compliance with a search warrant, or
court order or when exigent circumstances exist.
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(h) UAS deployment should be considered when an aerial view would assist officers or
incident commanders during the following:
1. Accident investigations
2. Missing person investigations
3. Search and rescue operations
4. Fires
5. Disaster management
6. Crime scenes
7. Supporting criminal investigations
8. Perimeter searches and security
9. Enhanced situational awareness for officer and/or civilian safety
10. UAS demonstrations
11. Training
345. 7 PROHIBITED USE
The UAS video surveillance equipment shall not be used:
(a) To conduct random surveillance activities.
(b) To target a person based solely on individual characteristics, such as, but not limited
to race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation.
345.8 MEDIA STORAGE
All media will be stored in a secured area with access restricted to authorized persons. Recordings
not otherwise needed for official reasons shall be retained for a period of not less than one year and
thereafter should be erased with the written consent of the City Attorney. Any recordings needed
as evidence in a criminal or civil proceeding shall be copied to a suitable medium and booked into
evidence in accordance with current evidence procedures (Government Code 34090.6).
345.9 REVIEW OR RELEASE OF VIDEO IMAGES
The review or the release of video images shall be done only with the authorization of the Chief
of Police or his/her designee and only with the properly completed written request.
345.9.1 PUBLIC OR OTHER AGENCY REQUEST
Requests for recorded video images from other government agencies or by the submission of a
court order or subpoena shall be promptly submitted to the Records Manager, who will promptly
research the request and submit the results of such search through the Chief of Police to the City
Attorney's office for further handling. Every reasonable effort should be made to preserve the data
requested until the request has been fully processed by the City Attorney's office. Video images
captured by UAS cameras that are requested by the public or media will be made available only
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to the extent required by law. Except as required by a valid court order or other lawful process,
video images requested under the Public Records Act will generally not be disclosed to the public
when such video images are evidence in an ongoing criminal investigations in which a disposition
has not been reached.
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