Public Safety

Newport Beach approves $4.5 million police-drone expansion

The six-year expansion will add Skydio aircraft, docks and related systems after the department logged 912 drone deployments in three months.

Image credit: Sgt. Austin Steinborn / U.S. Army via Wikimedia Commons, public domain; archival November 2024 Skydio photograph from Romania, not a Newport Beach police deployment

The Newport Beach City Council approved an expansion of the Police Department’s drone program that is expected to cost more than $4.5 million over the six years remaining on an existing technology contract, the Daily Pilot reported September 25. The amendment adds Skydio drones, docking equipment and related systems, along with body cameras for park patrol and parking-control officers.

What it means locally

Police officials said drones were used 912 times at crime scenes, crashes and other calls during a recent three-month period. The aircraft arrived before officers nearly 65% of the time and helped locate people in 22.5% of deployments, vehicles in nearly 12% and objects in 4%. The department says the Skydio equipment can integrate with its existing evidence and body-camera systems and improve coverage in areas where buildings, hills and connectivity complicate flights.

Full report and further details: Read original report →