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Page 1 of 1 <br />Some text in quotes is shown in BOLD and colored red for emphasis. <br />2026-02-03 Letter to City Council-Item 15 <br />Dale Helvig <br />Resident, Santa Ana CA 92706 <br /> <br />February 3, 2026 <br /> <br />Mayor Amezcua and Santa Ana City Councilmembers <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza, 8th Floor <br />Santa Ana CA 92702 <br />Subject: Item 15 – Implementation of the Drone as a First Responder System <br /> <br />I hoping we all agree that the safety of every resident is paramount when we make decisions. It is my <br />belief the Drone as a First Responder System meets this requirement. That is why I support Item 15. <br />I’m sure some people will have reservations about using drones within the city, but I feel the <br />necessary precautions have been taken to ensure privacy and protect the residents. <br /> <br />Some key statements in the staff report, “The policy provides the framework for the use of DFR and patrol <br />drones, including provisions to safeguard the Community’s Constitutional Rights and to ensure transparency <br />and accountability.” and “Equipped with real-time information from the drone's video stream, the pilot, <br />field-based police supervisors, and responding officers will be able to coordinate their actions more <br />effectively and gather information in direct support of the Department’s de-escalation strategy.” <br /> <br />I agree with Congressman Lou Correa in his letter to you when he says, “By using drones, public safety <br />agencies can better assess a situation before public safety officers arrive, and many times eliminate the need <br />to use deadly force”; and, “While drones pose legitimate privacy concerns, crafting good policy will help <br />mitigate, if not eliminate such concerns.” <br /> <br />When you can provide legal and non-lethal information to law enforcement prior to their arrival at <br />the scene, we all win. <br /> <br />Respectfully, <br />Dale A Helvig <br />Resident, Santa Ana <br /> <br />cc: Alvaro Nuñez, <br />City Manager, Santa Ana <br /> <br />Sonia Carvalho, <br />City Attorney, Santa Ana <br /> <br />Minh Thai, <br />Deputy City Manager, Santa Ana <br /> <br />Sylvia Vazquez, <br />Deputy City Manager, Santa Ana