THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The Ventura County Sheriff's Office has launched a Drone as a First Responder program in Thousand Oaks and Camarillo, with drones launching from docking stations to reach emergency calls, often before deputies arrive, the Sheriff's Office announced on November 9, 2026.
Read the Sheriff's Office release: https://nixle.us/HT6KM
The program expands the Sheriff's Office Unmanned Aircraft Systems program, in partnership with the cities of Thousand Oaks and Camarillo. It is run by the Thousand Oaks Police Department, the Camarillo Police Department and the Sheriff's Special Services / UAS Team.
The Docks, The Pilots, The Response
Strategically located docking systems are capable of autonomously launching drones to support public safety efforts, the Sheriff's Office said.
The drones are operated by Federal Aviation Administration-certified pilots. They can launch from their docks and arrive at incident locations within minutes, often prior to the arrival of responding deputies.
While overhead, pilots can relay real-time critical information to responding deputies and supervisors, enabling them to make informed decisions to maximize their safety and the safety of the community, the Sheriff's Office said.
The Missions, The Rules, The Oversight
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The Drone as a First Responder program is a reactive program designed to support a variety of public safety operations, including patrol responses, assisting in searching for missing persons, search and rescue operations, disaster responses, and other critical incidents impacting public safety.
Use of the program is conducted in strict compliance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations and is regulated by Sheriff's Policy, the Sheriff's Office said.
The Partnership, The Transparency, What's Next
The Sheriff's Office said it is committed to transparency and the responsible use of innovative technology to enhance collaborative efforts at reducing crime and improving public safety.
Public information, including flight reporting information, will be available on the Sheriff's Office Drone as a First Responder program page at https://sheriff.venturacounty.gov/drone-as-a-first-responder-dfr-program/.
Sources
Ventura County Sheriff's Office, "Ventura County Sheriff's Office Launches Drone as a First Responder Program," November 9, 2026: https://nixle.us/HT6KM