The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office wants to expand its use of drones to reduce deputy violence. Yet its oversight agency warns the rules for deployment are too loose, and some officials are concerned about over-policing communities of color.

The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to move forward with using drones as first responders, with a final vote planned for June 17. It would allow Sheriff Bob Jonsen’s office to remotely deploy drones from its headquarters to calls for service out in the field, which law enforcement officials said could lead to fewer uses of force. Current conditions only enable drones be deployed from patrol cars during protests. It would also empower deputies to use them in the jails.

It comes as a new report from the sheriff’s oversight office qu

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