Oversight board approves $2.1M contribution to grow drone program for LAPD

LA Police Department Expands Drone Program Amid Budget Concerns

The Civilian Oversight Board of the Los Angeles Police Department has approved a significant donation of $2.1 million aimed at enhancing the department’s drone capabilities.

This funding will support the “Drone as First Responder” initiative, which deploys drones to 911 calls prior to the arrival of police officers. The LA Police Foundation has provided this financial boost to the program.

The money will be allocated to purchase more drones, docking stations, and necessary installations across various police facilities in the city. However, the city council must first vote to formalize acceptance of these funds before they can be utilized.

According to a report submitted to the Police Commission by Deputy Chief Emada Tingirides, the department also plans to combine these private funds with a separate retail theft grant worth $1.8 million.

These resources will enable a three-year agreement with Skydio Inc., a drone manufacturer, covering everything from equipment to warranty and service.

The LAPF, which is a private nonprofit, relies on donations from affluent individuals and corporations to support LAPD initiatives not included in the city’s budget. Notable contributors over the years include Steve Ballmer, Tony Pritzker, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Casey Wasserman.

The expansion of the drone program is occurring at a time when City Hall is contending with a projected $1 billion budget deficit and ongoing debates around police funding.

Currently, the Los Angeles Police Department is staffed with around 8,700 officers, which is about 3,300 fewer than what Chief Jim McDonnell believes is necessary, especially with the city gearing up for upcoming major events like the FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics.

The “Drone as First Responder” initiative has been in a pilot stage since June, allowing the department to evaluate various vendors, hardware, and deployment strategies.

Tingirides described the program as “very successful” and indicated that Skydio had been chosen as the preferred supplier for the department.

Plans are also in place to add docking stations that would enhance drone coverage across Los Angeles’ diverse regions, depending on airspace restrictions.

The LAPD is proposing to install up to 23 docking stations in eight police departments and in several well-known commercial districts, such as The Grove and Palisades Village, enabling drones to launch automatically and provide live footage from emergency situations.

This initiative has faced criticism from civil liberties organizations, which argue that it could lead to increased surveillance of citizens.

In response to such concerns, the department has launched a public website that tracks each drone’s deployment and displays its flight paths.

Alongside these developments, the Police Commission is also mulling over a proposal that would allow for the deletion of about 11.8 million body-worn camera recordings after five years, a notable shift from the police’s historical practice of retaining footage indefinitely.