By Joanna Putman
Police1
ELK GROVE, Calif. — At a recent Elk Grove City Council meeting, the council unanimously greenlit the purchase of a state-of-the-art $2.1 million drone first responder system, a move aimed at significantly enhancing the Elk Grove Police Department’s (EGPD) capabilities, Elk Grove News.net reported.
The decision allows for a no-bid acquisition of the Drone Response System from Aerodome, Inc., following a recommendation from city management analyst Tamara Lopez, according to the report. This financial commitment, spread across four years, is supported by Measure E funding from a one-cent local sales tax.
EGPD’s Special Operations Lieutenant Nate Lange highlighted the system’s potential to improve the city’s aerial operations, initially established in 2019 by a team of three officers, according to the report. Aerodome’s technology promises rapid deployment for service calls and an automated battery swapping feature.
In this video, Gordon Graham discusses how drones can be used as effective tools in various policing tasks without compromising the principles of community engagement. Whether you’re part of a rural or urban law enforcement agency, discover how these technologies can be tailored to meet your community’s unique needs.
“We are not using this for any type of surveillance technique,” he said. “These are utilized only to respond to calls for service.”
Lt. Lange emphasized the unique operational framework within EGPD, where 30 department members, including non-sworn personnel, are trained drone pilots—a setup not commonly found in other cities.
While a deployment schedule for the new drones was not detailed, Lt. Lange mentioned the department’s current fleet includes 15 to 20 drones capable of covering one mile, according to the report. In contrast, the Aerodome units can reach up to six miles, significantly expanding operational reach.