The San Francisco Police Department began using drones, also called an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), after voters passed Proposition E in March of 2024. This marked the first time SFPD has had air support for officers since 2000.
Drones have multiple public safety benefits for the city of San Francisco, including faster response times, increased situational awareness for officers, more precision, the ability to integrate with other technology, and many other uses.
The initial phase of Department drone deployment includes six drones. Drones are only used for law enforcement purposes, like criminal investigations and critical incidents.
SFPD has a robust policy on drone usage that complies with federal, state, and local laws and ensures individuals’ constitutional rights are protected.