Since August 2026, two drones using Flock Aerodome DFR have launched from the roof of the Lompoc Police Department to help assess calls for service within a 3-mile radius of the station.

A certified drone pilot monitors 911 calls and radio traffic from the station, then decides when to deploy a drone. Response data shows the speed: from Aug. 1 to Oct. 6, 2026, drones responded to 225 calls with an average response time of 98.1 seconds, arriving before officers 61% of the time. They have flown to welfare checks, disturbances, traffic stops, burglaries, and other calls, and have helped officers locate 144 subjects in connection with calls for service.

Guiding officers to a hidden suspect

In September, officers spotted a wanted person at a gas station. When they tried to stop him, he ran. From above, the drone operator saw the man hide in a corner of a nearby yard, a spot officers on the ground couldn't see. The operator relayed his location to officers, who took him into custody without further incident. Community Services Sgt. Scott Morgan said this kind of real-time information has helped officers in multiple cases.

Program support, training, and transparency for Lompoc PD's DFR program

The Lompoc City Council unanimously approved the program last December for a two-year trial, with officials pointing to its ability to support an understaffed department and improve efficiency.

According to the department, pilots complete training that includes a 40-hour California POST certification and FAA remote pilot certification. The department also publishes flight details on a public dashboard so residents can see where and why the drones fly.