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Santa Paula approves draft public-safety drone policy; council adds explicit ban on texting images
Summary
The council approved a draft Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) policy for the Santa Paula Police Department, authorizing a limited set of mission types, FAA compliance, training and data-retention rules. The council directed staff to add explicit language forbidding unofficial distribution by SMS/text.
The Santa Paula City Council on June 18 approved a staff-drafted policy governing police use of unmanned aerial systems and directed staff to add explicit language prohibiting distribution of UAS-obtained data via text message.
Chief Aguilar, representing the Santa Paula Police Department, asked the council to approve the draft policy and described the program structure, training requirements and mission types. “The recommendation the staff is asking for and requesting tonight is for city council to approve the recommended draft of the unmanned aerial systems policy,” Chief Aguilar said.
The draft policy establishes a unit command structure, requires pilots to hold FAA Part 107 certificates and calls for mission documentation, supervisory review and archiving. Chief Aguilar said the department will seek FAA authorization (COA) where required and that the program will use evidence-archiving systems already in place; video intended for evidentiary use will be uploaded to evidence.com (Axon) to preserve chain of custody.
Authorized mission types listed in staff materials include tactical operations, investigative support, area searches (including missing-person searches), search-and-rescue, explosive-device investigations, hazardous-materials response, assistance to fire response, disaster or mass-casualty incidents, special-event monitoring, GIS mapping, public-works assessments and mutual-aid support to other jurisdictions when appropriate.
Council members asked about geographic limits, training, data security and mutual-aid protocols. Chief Aguilar said city authorization would cover operations within Santa Paula and that outside requests would be handled case by case in coordination with the lead jurisdiction. He said FAA Part 107 training is available locally and that each mission will be documented and reviewed by command staff.
Councilmember Crosswhite moved to approve the draft UAS policy and to add language explicitly naming SMS/text messaging in the prohibition on unofficial distribution of recordings or images; Councilmember Cornelius seconded. The motion passed with the council’s unanimous vote.
Chief Aguilar said the department will deploy two UAS platforms — a patrol UAS and an investigative UAS — and train at least one officer per shift to operate a UAS to allow prompt response. The policy includes supervisory oversight and a requirement to maintain mission records for review. The chief also said he will include the UAS in future military-equipment reporting the city must provide under state law (Assembly Bill 481).
