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Council approves two‑site lease for drone first‑responder program with Flock Safety
Summary
Hemet authorized a two‑year lease with Flock Safety Inc. for a two‑launch, radar‑integrated aerodrome drone first‑responder platform at a not‑to‑exceed $100,000 in year one and $250,000 in year two (total $350,000); staff said the change removes subcontracted ground crews and expands coverage.
The Hemet City Council on June 24 approved a lease agreement to expand the city’s drone as‑first‑responder (DFR) program, authorizing the city manager to enter a two‑year lease with Flock Safety Inc. with a not‑to‑exceed cost of $100,000 in the first year and $250,000 in the second year, for a two‑year total not to exceed $350,000. The resolution passed 4‑0.
What the program change is: Police staff presented a proposal to move from a single launch site with subcontracted ground crews to two automated “drone‑in‑a‑box” launch sites with integrated radar and Flock911 software. Staff said the change would provide near‑24/7 availability, faster response times and reduce reliance on subcontracted ground crews.
Officials’ summary and rationale
- Performance so far: Police staff reported more than 2,000 drone flights and over 1,000 flight hours since the program launched; average drone response time is about 3.2 minutes compared with roughly six minutes for a ground unit.
- Proposed capability: Two overlapping launch sites (one near the station and another near the mall) plus radar obstacle avoidance and software integration to receive CAD call details (Flock911) would shorten dispatch times and increase on‑station time. Staff described an expected nominal flight endurance of roughly 49 minutes per sortie under calm wind conditions and swappable batteries for extended operations.
- Budget and procurement: Staff said the first year of the leased platform yields net savings after cancelling the subcontracted ground crew; the second year includes recurring radar/subscription costs that increase the program’s annual cost. Leasing was recommended to permit equipment upgrades and warranty coverage during rapid technological change.
Council action and next steps
Council voted 4‑0 to adopt the resolution authorizing the lease. Staff said the department will retain its existing in‑house drones for tactical missions while using leased systems for continuous city‑wide DFR coverage; staff also committed to provide operational metrics and further briefings as deployment proceeds.
Ending
The lease moves Hemet toward two‑site automated drone coverage with radar integration and CAD linkage; staff will proceed with contract execution and return with operational data as the program scales.
