The city has been utilizing drones deployed on the scene by officers since 2018 and has acquired 15 various types and sizes of drones since. However, the Oceanside Police Department has recently been offered a grant to support new first-responder drones for a 13-month trial period.
First responder drones can traverse from a rooftop in downtown Oceanside to the scene of an emergency within seconds of a 911 being received, and can arrive in significantly less time than an officer. Upon arriving, the drone’s bird’s-eye view of an accident or crime scene quickly provides important information to the police, enabling speedy assessment of the situation.
Keeping the public apprised of new uses of technology by its city government is something with which local printing services can assist.
According to Oceanside’s police Lt. Michael Provence, in some situations, the very presence of the drone can reduce criminal behavior. Provence said:
“It can de-escalate a rapidly developing situation.”
First-response drones can verify the location of a traffic accident to ensure officers are dispatched to the correct location and help supervisors allocate resources to multiple locations based on each specific incident’s needs.
A unanimous vote by the Oceanside Police and Fire Commission recently recommended that Oceanside City Council should accept a state grant to fund the project.