Two Flock Safety drones launching from the roof of the Lompoc Police Department have been responding to emergencies in the city since August. The extra eyes in the air help officers locate subjects and navigate difficult terrain within a 3-mile radius of the station.
“I think it’s been helpful in multiple cases,” Community Services Sgt. Scott Morgan told the Sun. “There’s been multiple times where it’s been up, and the drone operator has been able to notify the oncoming officers of what he sees, what’s going on, kind of the real-time info.”
A wanted person was spotted at a gas station in September, Morgan remembered. When officers tried to stop the subject, he fled.
“The drone operator saw that he had basically barricaded himself in a yard, hidden in a part of the yard,” Morgan said. “These are all things that the officers wouldn’t be able to see without that drone up in the air. So ultimately, they helped guide officers to the area he was and get him in custody without any further incident.”
Since Aug. 1, Aerodome drones have located 144 subjects, according to the Police Department’s flight dashboard. Details about the drone’s responses and flight paths are available to view online at community.lompoc.ca.us.aerodome.com.
Lompoc City Council members unanimously approved the program last December for a two-year trial run. Officials said the resource would support the understaffed Police Department and increase efficiency.
The current pilot works four 10-hour shifts per week. From his office at the police station, he listens to 911 calls to determine if it’s appropriate to put one of the machines in the air.
“He’s listening to the radio, listening to the phone call, and getting those real-time notes, and then he’ll make a decision on whether or not to deploy the drone,” Morgan said.
So far in October, the drone has flown to reports of public intoxication, burglary, spousal abuse, and other disturbances. It’s also responded to traffic stops and welfare checks.
“If someone calls and says, ‘Someone’s holding a gun and running around.’ Or if there’s a big fight somewhere, or … someone says, ‘Hey. There’s a missing child,’ and there’s a description of this child, the drone could get up and get in the area and help officers search. It’s a good tool for lots of different scenarios.”
From Aug. 1 to Oct. 6, the Aerodome was used in 225 calls, according to the police database, mainly for welfare checks, disturbances, traffic stops, and suspicious circumstances. Some flights were for tests or demonstrations. The average response took 98.1 seconds, and the drone arrived on-scene before officers did 61 percent of the time.
When the City Council approved the program last year, some residents questioned the community’s privacy. A Flock representative at the December meeting said the cameras aren’t pointed toward the ground while the drone is in flight.
“This is not designed to be an invasion of anybody’s privacy,” Morgan told the Sun. “It’s designed as a really good tool to help stop crime and be a deterrent for people that want to commit crimes.”
The Police Department keeps footage for two years and one day, per its video retention policy, Morgan added. Serious court cases are the exception if they require video evidence.
Two drone pilots are currently certified for the position, Morgan explained, but only one works right now. He will rotate with the other pilot in roughly six months.
“It’s very difficult to staff it every moment of the day. You need obviously quite a few pilots,” Morgan said.
Extensive training is required for officers, too. They must study for and pass a lengthy exam, complete a 40-hour California Peace Officer Standards and Training certification, and obtain a license from the Federal Aviation Administration.
“It’s been a good tool, and a lot of the officers have found it really useful and [are] happy that it’s there,” Morgan said. “It’s just another way of making it safer, much, much safer for the officers and the community in general.”
