Drones Set to Take on Bigger Role in LAPD Emergency Response
- On June 24, 2025, the Los Angeles Police Commission authorized a pilot program permitting LAPD officers in four divisions to use drones while responding to standard emergency incidents.
- This expansion follows national growth in law enforcement drone use, driven by FAA's simplified waiver process and evidence of drones improving officer safety and response times.
- Programs in Washington state and Milwaukee demonstrate drones locating missing persons, providing real-time intelligence, and supporting rapid response without routine patrol use.
- From 2018 to 2024, the FAA approved just over 50 DFR waivers, and by June 11, 2025, received 300 waiver submissions reflecting accelerated program adoption nationwide.
- While the expanded drone use offers safer, more effective policing, civil liberties groups warn against unchecked aerial surveillance and call for strong privacy safeguards and public input.
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Technology lets PNP respond quickly
MANILA — The use of new technologies such as drones and closed-circuit television (CCTV) has allowed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to step up and speed up its response to emergency situations, Malacañang said Friday.It was the response of Palace Press Officer Claire Castro to Vice President Sara Duterte’s comment on “traditional” visibility measures being undertaken by police officers.Duterte had told the PNP to prioritize the use of mode…
Drones set to take on bigger role in LAPD emergency response
Drones could soon become a more common tool in how the Los Angeles Police Department responds to emergencies. Under a new policy approved Tuesday, June 24, LAPD officers are now authorized to deploy drones during routine emergency calls, marking a significant expansion of the department’s use of unmanned aircraft. Major policy shift in drone use Previously, LAPD drone use was limited to high-risk or tactical situations. Commissioners previously …

LAPD allowed to use drones as 'first responders' under new program
LOS ANGELES — Citing successes other police departments across the country have seen using drones, the Los Angeles Police Commission said it would allow the LAPD to deploy unmanned aircraft on routine emergency calls.
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