Oxnard—The City Council, during its Tuesday, Dec. 3, meeting, approved its BRINC Drone Agreement with a 6-1 vote to act as a first responder plan in the City.
Council Member Arthur Valenzuela voted no.
Police Chief Jason Benites presented the item, which included an overview of the drone’s uncrewed aerial system with examples for public safety, some examples of successful drone use, and an overview of the drone as a First Responder (DFR) concept.
He asked the City Council to approve and authorize Mayor John Zaragoza to enter into a five-year agreement with Brinc Drones for an amount not to exceed $2 million to provide the Oxnard Police Department with the equipment, technology, and support to establish and operate a Drone First Responder Program, acquire the drones, with $363,717 funding from the State Supplemental Services Fund (SLEFS) for COPS (Citizen Options for Public Safety) and the corresponding Capital Outlay Fund appropriation revenue transfer.
“The Oxnard Police Department has flown unmanned, Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS or Drones),” he said. “We currently have a drone response model program, meaning the drones are stored and carried by designated Police Officer drone pilots.”
He said that means some Officers have drones in their…
