HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- The Huntington Beach Police Department is using drones in an effort to improve the agency's response times to crime scenes and calls for service, with police officials describing the program as a game changer for law-enforcement and the residents of Huntington Beach.
The drones are reactive, not proactive, meaning the unmanned aerial vehicles won't be flying around for surveillance purposes. They are only deployed after a call for service, according to the Police Department.
The agency initially established its drone program in 2018, but with the new "Drone As a First Responder" program ,pilots can launch drones from a remote location, specifically from the department's Real-time Crime Center.
"One of the biggest advantages of this program is how quic