In Chula Vista, the second-largest city in San Diego County, California, drones are used as “first responders.” The flying robots are often the first to arrive on the scene when an incident is reported, and play an instrumental role in catching criminals or assisting detentions. And to make sure that citizens retain their trust in these drones, Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD) gives residents the ability to view the exact location, flight path, and purpose of each police drone deployment.
CVPD is a bona fide superstar when it comes to using drones for good. It began deploying drones from the rooftop of the police department headquarters to 911 calls and other reports of emergency incidents, such as crimes in progress, fires, traffic accidents, and reports of dangerous subjects, in 2018 and hasn’t looked back since.
The public safety agency has utilized drones in over 8,200 reported emergencies to date, clocking an average response time of just over two…
