Public Safety · Stockton, CA
California Cities Face Pushback Over Expanding Police Drone Programs
The Stockton City Council approved a $3.15 million contract expansion with Flock Safety to integrate six drones into its existing network of 120 license plate reader cameras, as residents across California challenge growing municipal police drone programs at required public hearings. A 2021 state law mandates local board approvals for military equipment including drones, forcing agencies in San Francisco, Santa Ana and other cities to defend proposed policies before skeptical communities. Sonoma County settled an ACLU lawsuit last month over warrantless drone searches of private property conducted without a published policy, pledging to obtain warrants or consent before residential inspections. A February 2026 UC Berkeley study found no evidence that first-responder drones reduce officer-involved shootings, lower use of force, or improve case resolution rates.