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Paramount reviews six‑month drone pilot and asks staff for more data
Summary
City staff reported a six‑month review of a civilian drone pilot used to monitor street racing; the review found limited added value in Paramount, cited weather and operational limits, and estimated a higher annual cost if continued. Council asked for more data and possible summer testing.
On Feb. 24, 2026, the Paramount City Council received a six‑month review of a civilian drone pilot program used to monitor street racing and intersection takeovers. Assistant Public Safety Director Eric Wasek told the council the pilot showed some value but had operational limits and a high projected cost.
Wasek said the city contracted drone overwatch services to monitor hotspot intersections under a $109,000 pilot agreement. The contractor provided about 77 operational days, more than 700 flights and roughly 210 flight hours between August and Jan. 31, he said. "Basically we were paying $109,000 for an extra set of eyes," Wasek said. He reported the drones captured 12 takeover‑related calls during the pilot —…
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