Full Notification

The Ripon Police Department Receives FAA Approval for UAS Program

The police department recently received approval from the Federal Aviation Authority on the use of its Unmanned Ariel Vehicle (UAS) Program. The department had been working with the FAA since December of 2016, when our program was approved at a public City Council meeting.

With the FAA approval, the department will be operating under a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA). To see the COA in full detail please click on the attached link or visit our department web page at www.riponpd.org.

In December of 2016 the department received a donation of $10,000 from Diamond Pet Food to fund the UAS program. The City Council voted to accept the donation at a December City Council meeting, and gave authority to the police department to move forward with an UAS Program. The funds were used to purchase two DJI Inspire 1 aircraft, plus hardware and accessories.

The UAS program will be used for official police work, such as when conducting search warrants, viewing crime scenes, and searching for lost or missing persons, especially along the Stanislaus River. The department has equipped each UAS with police markings and additional strobe lights so these UAS’s can be easily identified as police equipment.

“We are grateful for Diamond Pet Food and our many community partners who are committed to helping us keep our community safe,” Chief Ed Ormonde stated.

The UAS’s will be available for immediate use, as the designated members of the department are already starting to train in the equipment’s operation.

Pictured below is Diamond Pet Food (Ripon) Plant Manager Mark Ferguson, IT Manager Dan Brannon (UAS Program Lead), and Chief Ed Ormonde with one of the DJI Inspires.