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Sheriff reports 137% rise in drone use; board accepts AB 481 military equipment report
Summary
Sheriff outlined a large increase in drone deployments and described equipment listed under AB 481; the board voted to accept the annual AB 481 report and renew the military equipment use policy ordinance.
Sheriff Derpsky told the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 7 that the county's use of aerial drones increased by 137% over the past year and that drones are being used routinely as a less‑lethal information and tactical tool.
“There's an incredible increase in drone usage of 137% over the last year,” Sheriff Derpsky said during the board discussion required by Assembly Bill 481. He said the department operates roughly 35 aerial drones and also maintains a small number of ground robots for the bomb team. He described drone operators as deputies who perform regular duties and deploy the aircraft when needed and noted the department must meet Federal Aviation Administration training and certification requirements, including Part 107 authorizations.
Derpsky said the county has no MRAPs, Humvees, or tracked armored vehicles and that the armored vehicles in the county's inventory are law‑enforcement specific and not military combat vehicles. He noted that some items listed under AB 481 — including the Remington 870 shotgun — are common law‑enforcement tools and, in some cases, ordinary sporting equipment.
Public commenter Ron McMurtry asked whether the department staffs dedicated drone positions; the sheriff answered that deputies are trained and certified to fly drones and that the devices are assigned to deputies who also handle patrol and other duties.
A motion to accept the Sheriff's Office, District Attorney's Office, and Probation Department AB 481 annual military equipment report and to renew the military equipment use policy ordinance was made and seconded; the board voted in favor and the motion carried.
The sheriff invited members of the public to review the county's equipment list on the county website and to email the department with specific questions.
This action officially records the county's annual disclosure under Assembly Bill 481, the state law requiring jurisdictions to publish military equipment inventories and related policies; the board did not adopt additional limits or new equipment purchases at the Jan. 7 meeting.
