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Zuniga, Diana From: pjl < Sent: Friday, January 30, 2026 6:03 PM To: eComment Subject: Drones as a First Responder Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana.Use caution when opening attachments or links. Santa Ana uses helicopters;with drones we don't have to pay or compete with outside sourcing. DRONES are orders of magnitude less expensive and faster than helicopters. DRONES are (will be)faster; multiple stations, multiple operators. Operators able to handle different zones. DRONES response can be less than 1 minute. When you have an emergency, minutes count. DRONES enable a quick assessment of the situation; and quick dispatch of best assets available;whether police,fire, or medical. Implementation and maintenance costs lower. We have a budget issue pending. Able to record the issue; items of interest before the situation changes. Better than a (fallible) eye witness, or misinformation. Faster triage. Quieter. More efficient. No pensions or retirement healthcare. Saves a lot of money going forward. No disability, sick, injured, or training time off impacting costs and scheduling. Able to update faster. ( software, hardware, and incidents). Able to bring into service within days/weeks;v. months (years)for recruitment and training. Better ROI, drones won't leave to a different agency or offer. Much less expensive that fully kilted officers. Many drones can be used for the cost of a single patrol vehicle. Avoids possible escalation of an issue by the appearance of a marked police car. Safer for us all than a chase, or emergency vehicle hurrying to an incident. DRONES do not "spy' on you. The cameras look down at launch and landing . Once airborne, the cameras shift to the horizon for navigation (and privacy). It only shifts down again when it reaches the dispatch destination. They will not be "patrolling"; they are employed as a FIRST RESPONSE. Santa Ana is surrounded by Cities that already have their own drones. They all have better responses. SAFER FOR OFFICERS; FEWER CONFRONTATIONS. THINK OF PATROLING/ RESPONDING TO ISSUES ON THE RAILROAD TRACKS OR OTHER SKETCHY PLACES. Pete "His private character is not defended by his most partial friends. He is bankrupt beyond redemption except by the plunder of his country. His public principles have no other spring or aim than his own aggrandizement...If he can he will certainly disturb our institutions to secure himself permanent power and with it wealth. He is truly the Catiline of America." Alexander Hamilton 1