RivCo Cops Test Drones As First Response To 'Clear Calls, Save Lives'

HEMET, CA — Hear a drone buzzing overhead in Hemet? It may be a remote-controlled drone run by the Hemet Police Department in a new Drone As First Responder program, being tested by multiple Southern California police departments.

The Hemet Police Department has joined that pilot project, they announced this week.

Drone use by law enforcement has already been embraced by multiple public safety agencies and municipalities across Southern California, according to a statement from Flying Lion—the company specializing in drone technology for law enforcement use. Flying Lion has partnered with multiple agencies for the 30-day trial to determine whether the "Drone-As-A-First-Responder" program is a good fit for the community. The Hemet Police Department recently joined that trial period, according to department spokesman Alan Reyes.

He discussed using an unmanned aerial system—UAS —to fly to any reported emergency and arrive before police officers on the ground.

"An air support officer will operate the UAS remotely and immediately communicate with field personnel via radio," he said in a recent news release. "The video feed is also immediately available to every officer in the field via vehicle computer or smartphone application, so officers can see for themselves what they are responding to."

Hemet Chief of Police Eddie Pust also weighed in on the program.

"The ability to evaluate the resources needed, prepare the proper operational response and increase the safety of our officers and public is the intent of the project and the mission of HPD," Pust said. "Hemet is modeling the future of drone integration in Riverside County by utilizing drones as first responders."

Capt. Glen Brock, who is managing the Hemet drones program, discussed the importance of how images are captured by the aerial vehicles and then "stored in the same manner as body-worn camera video and other investigative evidence."

The drone footage is stored for a period of time consistent with all other evidence related to that type of incident or investigation.

While officials hailed the rapid response of the drones, and their ability to provide bird's eye views ahead of emergency responders on the ground, residents shared wary comments in response to the Facebook announcement.

"I have seen this drone twice now flying over my house," one commenter said. "Relieved to know it is HPD and not some random person."

Others commented that having drones fly over homes felt like "an invasion of privacy." As

According to the Hemet Police Department, the agency's drones will rely on the Capture & Manage Evidence software platform, with "live streaming anywhere in the world and evidence-grade video management."

"By integrating CAPE-equipped drones into the DFR program, officers can respond to and assess active situations sooner and make lifesaving decisions on-scene," the department said. "Drones may even be used to clear calls when officers aren't needed, saving the department time and money."

More information about the Hemet project is available at www.aerial.motorolasolutions.com.

Officials didn't say how many officers had yet been trained as remote-controlled drone pilots operating under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations governing aircraft, particularly Part 107.

The regulations specify how, when and where drones may be deployed, with some airspace restrictions, including a limit of flying no higher than 400 feet above ground level, and are managed within FAA protocols, according to Flying Lion.

The regulations leave it to the discretion of state and local governing bodies to impose privacy constraints on drone operators.

Multiple police agencies across the southland have already integrated drone use into their toolkit, including the Chula Vista Police Department. The department is making strides in its Drone as First Responder program, said Chula Vista Police Chief Roxana Kennedy in a recent video release.

"Think about the importance of knowing whether a subject has a pencil a knife or a cell phone in someone's hand," said Chula Vista Police Chief Roxana Kennedy. "We are saving lives and making a difference to officers, managers and supervisors making split-second decisions. We are saving lives and making a difference by changing the future of law enforcement with technology."

The Corona Police Department also already integrated drones into its department toolkit.

Other departments around southern California in the Flying Lion trial period include Elk Grove Police, Manhattan Beach Police, Beverly Hills Police, Hermosa Beach Police, Palos Verdes Estates Police, Chula Vista Police, and Santa Monica Police Departments. A department in Brookhaven Georgia has also launched a DFR program using officers as certified drone pilots after learning of the Chula Vista program, according to a report from Flying Lion.

City News Service contributed to this report.