The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the cities of Thousand Oaks and Camarillo, is excited to announce the expansion of its Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program through the launch of its Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program in the cities of Thousand Oaks and Camarillo.
The DFR program consists of strategically located docking systems capable of autonomously launching drones to support public safety efforts. Operated by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified pilots, the drones can launch from their docks and arrive at incident locations within minutes, often prior to the arrival of responding deputies. While overhead, pilots can relay real-time critical information to responding deputies and supervisors, enabling them to make informed decisions to maximize their safety and the safety of our community.
DFR is a reactive program designed to support a variety of public safety operations, including patrol responses, assisting in searching for missing persons, search and rescue operations, disaster responses, and other critical incidents impacting public safety.
Use of the DFR program is conducted in strict compliance with FAA regulations and is regulated by Sheriff’s Policy.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is committed to transparency and the responsible leveraging of innovative technology to enhance collaborative efforts at reducing crime and improving public safety for our communities. Public information, including flight reporting information, will be available at https://sheriff.venturacounty.gov/drone-as-a-first-responder-dfr-program/.
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