Orange County Sheriff Launches Drone as a First Responder Program in Three Cities
The Orange County Sheriff's Department in Orange County, California, announced on October 20 that it will launch the first phase of its Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program in October 2026, bringing the new public safety resource to the contract cities of Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, and Stanton.
The program uses unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to respond to calls for service and critical incidents. In many cases, the drones can arrive before or alongside patrol personnel, providing deputies with real-time information about conditions on scene and helping them make informed decisions before they arrive. The aircraft will also be available to assist with incidents in portions of neighboring contract cities when operationally appropriate.
"Drone as a First Responder is an incredible advancement in public safety technology," said Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes. "By providing real-time information, DFR helps us improve safety, deploy resources more effectively, and ensure our deputies have the best possible information when responding to calls for service in our community."
The department said DFR is intended to supplement, not replace, existing first responder services: deputies, dispatchers, and other emergency personnel remain central to every response. The UAVs are unarmed, are operated by FAA-certified department personnel, and are deployed only for authorized public safety purposes. They may respond to calls for service, missing persons, and critical or hazardous incidents, and their video may assist with scene documentation and investigations.
Flight reporting information will be published on the department's DFR webpage as part of the program's transparency measures. The October launch is Phase 1 of a broader plan to expand DFR capabilities across the department's service area in future phases.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：警用无人机资料图。维基共享资源，CC0／Photo: A police drone (file photo). Wikimedia Commons, CC0
