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Police Drone Programs Expand as First-Responder Tool, Raising Privacy Concerns
The technology has proven effective in time-sensitive situations, but civil liberties advocates worry about potential misuse.
Published on Feb. 6, 2026
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Police departments across the country are increasingly turning to drones as first responders, with the technology proving effective at finding missing people and tracking suspects in violent crimes. However, civil liberties experts are concerned about potential misuse and lack of oversight in these drone programs.
Why it matters
The use of police drones as first responders raises important questions about privacy rights and government surveillance. While the technology has shown benefits in emergency situations, there are worries that it could lead to routine monitoring of citizens without proper checks and balances.
The details
The Drone as First Responder Program allows police departments to pre-position drones at multiple launch stations rather than officers releasing aircraft once they arrive on the scene. About 1,500 police departments now have some sort of drone program, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Chula Vista, California, became the first police department in the country to launch the program in 2018, and Arlington, Texas, expanded their program in mid-2025. The drones allow police to get a bird's-eye view of incidents and make better decisions, but civil liberties advocates are concerned about lack of oversight and potential for misuse, such as monitoring protests or conducting routine surveillance.
- Chula Vista, California, launched its Drone as First Responder Program in 2018.
- Arlington, Texas, expanded its Drone as First Responder Program in mid-2025.
The players
Roxana Kennedy
Chief of the Chula Vista, California, police department.
Rob Robertson
Head of the Arlington Police Department's Aviation Unit in Texas.
Jay Stanley
With the American Civil Liberties Union, who is concerned about government overreach with police drone programs.
What they’re saying
“I could not be happier and in fact I can't even imagine policing without the benefit of having drones.”
— Roxana Kennedy, Chief of the Chula Vista, California, police department (wbay.com)
“I can't put a number on how many lives have and will be saved by this technology, but it has become a critical part of our workflow. At the end of the day, the goal of a public safety aviation program should be to put robots in dangerous situations to save human lives.”
— Rob Robertson, Head of the Arlington Police Department's Aviation Unit in Texas (wbay.com)
“The big danger, the big thing that we worry about is that they will become omniscient eyes in the sky, watching everybody in the community all the time.”
— Jay Stanley, With the American Civil Liberties Union (wbay.com)
What’s next
The ACLU is calling for clear policies and transparency requirements around police drone programs to ensure they are not used for routine surveillance or to monitor protests, which could infringe on people's constitutional rights.
The takeaway
Police drone programs have shown benefits in emergency situations, but civil liberties advocates warn that without proper oversight and safeguards, they could lead to widespread government surveillance that violates individual privacy rights.
