LAPD approves $2.1 million to expand use of drones as 'first responders'

This story was originally published by The LA Local on Feb. 11, 2026.

The Los Angeles Police Commission unanimously approved a $2.1 million donation on Tuesday to significantly expand its Drone as First Responder program, allowing the department to deploy dozens more drones to certain calls for service across the city.

Several commissioners raised concerns about how the footage and other data captured by the drones would be stored and secured.

“You hear drones and it’s a polarizing conversation,” Commissioner Jeffrey Skobin said. “Do we have full control of the data?”

“We are in complete control of that data,” Police Officer Darren Castro responded.

Several people who attended the meeting said during public comment that they feared the drones could be used by the department for unauthorized surveillance.

“It’s not just mission creep, it’s creepy,” one public commenter said.

Public trust in police has recently wavered as many have questioned how the LAPD is protecting residents amid widespread immigration sweeps. And scrutiny has recently intensified after reports of how police collect, use and share data.

About the funding

The latest donation comes from the Los Angeles Police Foundation. LAPD contracted with drone manufacturer Skydio to purchase the drones and related software. Skydio also provided LAPD with a public website that allows residents to track drone flights.

“Skydio has no rights in this period for trial and moving forward to control those data captures and what goes into the cloud,” Castro said. “We have complete control and they have an extensive audit log of who goes in and any changes to those data captures.”

How the drones work

Castro said that drone pilots activate cameras only after an aircraft arrives at the scene of the call. Once a drone returns to its docking station, flight data — including video recordings — are automatically uploaded and sent directly to the department’s evidence database.

The department launched the Drone as First Responder pilot program in June 2025. As of Tuesday’s meeting, nine officers and two supervisors had been trained to operate the drones, with plans to train additional personnel.

Commander Bryan Lium, who presented an update on the pilot program, said the drones often arrived at scenes faster than patrol officers in vehicles. The aircraft is equipped with high-definition video and thermal imaging, allowing officers to assess whether people were armed or if other safety threats were present before officers arrived.

What's next

The department plans to install the docking stations at eight police facilities, as well as at:

• Palisades Village
• The Grove LA
• Vineyards Porter Ranch
• Avenue of the Stars

Lium said that those locations were selected because the program relied in part on $1.8 million in grant funding intended to curb retail theft and because the sites expanded the drone’s operational range.

Los Angeles Documenter, Martin Romero, contributed reporting for this story from the Feb. 10 Board of Police Commissioners meeting. The LA Documenters program trains and pays community members to document proceedings at public meetings. Learn more about the program here.