Oceanside PD Wants Drone Program Permanent | San Diego News

Oceanside PD’s drone program, now used over 1,300 times since launching last year, is seeking permanent status after proving effective in cutting response times and even aiding in a sexual assault arrest. The department plans to expand with a second drone for the east side, funded by a city budget estimate of $100K — up from the initial $264K state grant — thanks to new self-docking tech. But privacy advocates warn of unchecked surveillance and police militarization, noting drones can look like private ones. In response, Oceanside logs all flights online and lets residents request footage or contact dispatch for clarification. The City Council will vote on the program’s future in September, with public input welcomed before final approval. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/98d4a213c2293795