A city in California has recently authorized $3.15 million for police drones that can respond to 911 calls within 30 seconds.

      **TL;DR** Stockton has authorized a $3.15 million expenditure for police drones that can respond to 911 calls within 30 seconds, with a unanimous 7-0 council vote despite significant public opposition concerning surveillance issues.

      Stockton, California, has given the green light to a $3.15 million contract for police drones capable of responding to 911 calls in as little as 30 seconds. The city council voted unanimously to extend its agreement with Flock Safety, incorporating a drone-as-first-responder system alongside the automatic license plate readers already supplied by the company. The total contract value surpasses $5.4 million over five years.

      The drones will be positioned throughout the city, covering over 75% of Stockton’s territory. They provide police with visual access to a scene prior to officers' arrival, with response times varying from 30 seconds to four minutes. “It will significantly enhance our current capabilities by allowing for rapid deployments and real-time updates for officers on-site,” stated Police Lt. David Padula.

      The vote was unanimous, but public opposition was strong. Over an hour of public testimony raised concerns regarding privacy, immigration enforcement, and mass surveillance. Residents not only questioned the drones' operational use but also how the data they gather will be stored and shared.

      “It conveys an inappropriate message,” expressed local activist group The Stockton Community Check-In Booth. “While our residents continue to face the financial challenges posed by this administration and the economy, Stockton persists in its investment in militarization and surveillance.”

      Republican congressional candidate John McBride labeled the initiative “a complete invasion of privacy.” He highlighted that Flock’s cameras are owned privately, which prevents citizens from utilizing freedom of information requests to ascertain what data the company possesses about them. Flock asserts that local agencies retain control over the data, and drone flights are documented on a public dashboard.

      Concerns have been heightened by Flock's history. The company was previously found to be sharing license plate reader data with US Customs and Border Protection in Colorado and Illinois, although it claims those practices have ceased. In Texas, police utilized a Flock camera network to monitor the movements of a woman who underwent an abortion. In Mountain View, California, a Flock camera system was abandoned due to concerns about unauthorized access.

      Flock insists it does not collaborate with ICE and that federal agencies are barred from accessing or requesting data held by Stockton. The Stockton police will possess full ownership of the data collected. Nonetheless, critics worry about the discrepancy between company policy and actual practices. More than 100,000 Flock license plate readers are presently operational across the United States.

      Stockton joins a rising number of American cities implementing drone-based response systems, including Chula Vista, Fremont, and Louisville. Active programs also exist in Texas, Indiana, and Connecticut. The technology is promoted as a means to enhance officer safety and decrease response times. However, the unanswered question for cities remains what occurs when data from numerous autonomous flights over residential areas falls into the wrong hands, as has already happened elsewhere.

      Published June 10, 2026 - 10:04 pm UTC