DATE: April 23, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Police Department
TITLE: PURCHASE ORDERS TO IMPLEMENT A 13-MONTH DRONE AS FIRST RESPONDER (DFR) PILOT PROGRAM AND REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER (RTCC)
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the City Council approve a 13-month Drone as First Responder (DFR) pilot program and a Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC); approve a purchase order to Flying Lion, Inc. for staffing of a visual observer position in an amount not to exceed $143,600; authorize the purchase as a sole source; and authorize the Financial Services Director, or designee, to execute the purchase order.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The Oceanside Police Department has had an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), also known as a drone program, since 2016. The Department currently has 14 qualified pilots which include three Police Sergeants and one Police Lieutenant. The program is a collateral assignment for the assigned staff. Each member of the team is certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Remote Pilot. The team also undergoes annual proficiency testing. In 2023 alone, there were 574 UAS flights with over 114 hours of flight time. The program is operated under a Certificate of Authorization issued by the FAA. The current program involves a patrol-led response. Pilots carry drones in their vehicles and drive to the scene of an active police incident. They deploy the drones to assist other patrol officers who are already on scene. There is a delay in responding to calls for service that require a UAS due to the drive time and equipment set up by the pilot. The current practice requires at least two employees, with one being the Remote Pilot in Command and the other acting as a visual observer. Details of every flight are automatically logged, including the pilots involved, flight path, and duration. This ensures accountability and transparency.
The purpose of a Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) is to provide actionabl...
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