Sacramento County Sheriff expands drone program to enhance public safety response

The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors meeting on June 3, 2025, focused on the use of military equipment and unmanned aerial systems (UAS), including drones and robots, by the Sheriff's Department. The discussion highlighted the department's commitment to community safety and privacy while utilizing these technologies.

During the meeting, it was reported that in 2024, there were no documented complaints regarding military equipment as outlined in Assembly Bill 481. However, two civil claims were filed for property damage caused by the use of military equipment during operations. One claim involved damage to a sprinkler system caused by the Bearcat armored vehicle, while the other was related to property damage during a SWAT incident involving the Rook and Bearcat vehicles.

The Sheriff's Department currently operates 56 drones, which are accessible across all eight patrol districts and three shifts. The department is requesting an additional 19 drones to enhance coverage and replace aging equipment. Sheriff officials emphasized that the drones are used reactively and adhere to strict privacy policies, ensuring they are deployed only in specific incidents.

In addition to drones, the department has nine robots used primarily by the bomb squad and SWAT team. The request for an additional robot is aimed at replacing outdated technology, with no net increase in the total number of robots.

Supervisors raised questions about the deployment and operational effectiveness of these technologies. The Sheriff confirmed that drones are subject to the same legal requirements as human officers, including obtaining warrants when necessary. The department is also pursuing a program to allow drones to operate as first responders, which has shown promising results in reducing response times to under two minutes in pilot tests.

Overall, the meeting underscored the Sheriff's Department's ongoing efforts to integrate advanced technology into law enforcement while maintaining accountability and community trust. The board's discussions will likely influence future decisions regarding the expansion and use of these resources in Sacramento County.