Drones were being deployed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Cerritos station to assist in law enforcement, officials announced Friday.
The technology, already in wide use by numerous law enforcement and public safety agencies, will enhance but not replace the station’s current air support program, which has relied on helicopters, according to the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
“The drones will assist deputies during high-risk situations,” a bureau statement read.
“The program consists of several personnel who have attended and completed the mandatory Federal Aviation Administration training,” according to the statement. “In addition, all certified drone pilots have completed additional training through the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Special Enforcement Bureau.”
Cerritos Station Captain Dru Strong said drones have become “indispensable tools in contemporary law enforcement, offering real-time aerial support, improving situational awareness and enabling faster, more effective responses to critical incidents.”
Drones will improve safety for civilians and deputies alike, the captain said.
The city of Cerritos, which contracts with the sheriff’s department for police services, paid for two drones and the accessories necessary to launch the program.
Cerritos Mayor Frank Aurelio Yokoyama said the drones are among other initiatives that strengthen service to the community, while cementing the city’s “longstanding partnership with the LASD.”