'Officer in the Sky': Oceanside tests drones as first responders
The next time someone calls 911 in Oceanside, the first unit to respond might not be a police cruiser but a drone.
Oceanside police Chief Taurino Valdovinos called it his “officer in the sky.”
“It’s their eyes because it’s controlled by a police officer,” he said.
The city is running a 13-month pilot program called “Drone as First Responder.” It was approved by the City Council in April and funded through a $264,816 state grant that covers the drones, software and staffing.
Valdovinos said the drone is a force multiplier.
“It allows us to get eyes on the scene sooner and quicker and provide real-time information for our officers who are actually on the ground to respond,” he said.
That’s invaluable in an emergency where seconds count, especially as Oceanside’s population grows and the streets get more crowded, Valdovinos said.
Oceanside police Chief Taurino Valdovinos called it his “officer in the sky.”
“It’s their eyes because it’s controlled by a police officer,” he said.
The city is running a 13-month pilot program called “Drone as First Responder.” It was approved by the City Council in April and funded through a $264,816 state grant that covers the drones, software and staffing.
Valdovinos said the drone is a force multiplier.
“It allows us to get eyes on the scene sooner and quicker and provide real-time information for our officers who are actually on the ground to respond,” he said.
That’s invaluable in an emergency where seconds count, especially as Oceanside’s population grows and the streets get more crowded, Valdovinos said.