The Oceanside Police Department Tuesday announced it has begun its Drone as First Responder pilot program, where a drone operated from a rooftop in the city can be dispatched to incidents to provide video and information to officers before they respond.

The 13-month pilot program, approved by the Oceanside City Council, is intended to improve response time and increase officer safety and awareness during responses to calls. The city's Real-Time Crime Center will receive the video footage from the drone, which will operate mainly in the city's downtown area.

Drone as First Responder is being funded by a $264,816 state grant from the 2024 Citizens Options for Public Safety program. That funding will cover the drones, software and staffing.

"The program will be staffed by fully trained and

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