TITLE:
title
APPROVAL FOR THE PURCHASE OF THREE DOCKING STATIONS AND DRONE WITH AXON ENTERPRISE INC. (SKYDIO INC.)
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DEPARTMENT: POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESENTED BY: CARLOS DIAZ, CAPTAIN
CONTACT INFORMATION: CARLOS DIAZ, CAPTAIN, 714-754-5672
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Approve the purchase of three (3) drone docking stations and one (1) Skydio X-10 drone, including service and software through a cooperative agreement with Omnia Contract No. 3544-21-4615 in the amount of $292,144.59 for a term of two years.
2. Authorize a contingency in the amount of $7,855.41 for unforeseen costs.
3. Authorize the City Manager and City Clerk to execute an agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc. (Skydio Inc.), and any future amendments, in a form approved by the City Attorney.
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BACKGROUND:
Since its inception in 2019, the Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) program began as a Patrol-Led drone program that has successfully supported a broad range of missions, including search and rescue, missing persons, perimeter containment, high-risk warrant service, and critical incident overwatch, providing officers with real-time aerial intelligence that enhances safety for both personnel and the community. The program has consistently demonstrated its value through improved situational awareness and response efficiency, positioning the department to advance into modern policing and expand into advanced capabilities such as Drone as First Responder (DFR) operations and autonomous launch technologies. During the 2025-2026 fiscal year, drones were deployed approximately 459 times across several operations, including major accident collision investigations, calls for service, and crime scene photography.
Officers and professional staff members assigned to operate drones as a collateral duty have obtained and maintained a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Remote Pilot Certificate under 14 CFR Part 107. Certified pilots are responsible for conducting drone operations safely and in accordance with FAA regulations and Costa Mesa Police Department Policy 606.
Currently, through the Patrol-Led drone program, there are 24 active pilots who are licensed by the FAA. Pilots are selected from both the sworn personnel and professional staff, providing the department with a diverse group of trained pilots who can support patrol and other operational needs.
The Costa Mesa Police Department currently maintains a fleet of seven (7) drones consisting of both outdoor and indoor capable platforms. The fleet provides flexibility to support a variety of public safety operations.
In May and June of 2025, the Costa Mesa Police Department partnered with Skydio Inc. to conduct a three-week DFR structured pilot program to assess the program's operational effectiveness, reliability, and suitability for deployment. Throughout the trial, Skydio’s autonomous drones were launched to real-world calls for service, providing rapid aerial response, live video to dispatch and field supervisors, and enhanced situational awareness prior to officer arrival. The evaluation demonstrated consistent autonomous launch performance, accurate routing to incident locations, and appropriate call clearances, thereby eliminating the need for officers to respond to calls for service. During the trial, drones were launched in response to 63 calls for service. Based on the responses, drones cleared 24 calls for service without any officer needing to physically respond, keeping officers available for emergency calls for service. The drones assisted with 39 calls for service, maintaining observation, and provided valuable information to responding units. It was also discovered that drone-supported de-escalation, by providing situational awareness, allows personnel to better assess incidents and develop an informed response before making contact or without making direct contact.
As a result of the successful trial program, the Department obtained enhanced FAA approvals and waivers supporting Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, allowing designated drones to operate autonomously within approved parameters. This capability expands the Department’s ability to rapidly deploy aerial resources and provide real-time situational awareness without requiring a pilot to be physically co-located with the drone.
ANALYSIS:
The Costa Mesa Police Department’s continued development of its UAS capabilities positions the City to deploy a fully autonomous, citywide model. Building on the success of patrol-led drone operations currently conducted at South Coast Plaza under the Organized Retail Theft (ORT) grant, the next phase of the program includes the installation of three Skydio drone docking stations strategically located throughout the city. Locations will be based on operational needs, geographic coverage, response times, and existing infrastructure.
Since May of 2026, under the ORT grant DFR program at South Coast Plaza, the department conducted approximately 112 drone flights, resulting in 40 calls for service being resolved without requiring an on-scene patrol unit. In 56 deployments, the drone arrived before responding ground units, providing officers with immediate aerial situational awareness. The program achieved an average drone response time of approximately two minutes.
Through an established DFR program, docking stations will allow drones to launch from multiple locations throughout the City, enabling rapid response to priority calls and providing real-time situational awareness to first responders. As the City continues to develop its Real-Time Information Center (RTIC), the drone program will ultimately be managed from this centralized hub.
The Costa Mesa Police Department has been allocated significant federal funding through the office of Congressman Dave Min to support the development of a Real-Time Information Center (RTIC). The RTIC will serve as a force multiplier for officers in the field by providing timely, actionable information before and during calls for service. By integrating authorized public safety technologies and information into a centralized environment, RTIC personnel will provide officers with enhanced situational awareness regarding locations, vehicles, suspects, emerging threats, and critical incidents. This capability will support faster and more informed decision-making, improve officer and community safety, enhance opportunities for de-escalation, and enable officers to respond more effectively while spending less time navigating multiple information systems. The RTIC will enhance the Department’s ability to integrate, analyze, and utilize real-time public safety information to support field operations, improve situational awareness, and strengthen responses to critical incidents. Implementation of the RTIC is currently in the planning phase and is anticipated to be implemented in late 2027.
The RTIC will coordinate drone deployments, monitor live video feeds, and support multi-disciplinary response efforts with other departments, including Fire, Emergency Management, and Public Works.
In addition, the Skydio drone platform and associated hardware are fully compliant with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). NDAA- compliant systems ensure that all critical parts, software, and data pathways meet US Security standards, reducing cybersecurity risks. The expansion of autonomous drone operations remains compliant with California Assembly Bill (AB) 481, which governs the acquisition and use of certain law-enforcement technologies in the state.
The program is not intended for routine patrol, random or discretionary surveillance, or immigration enforcement. Autonomous deployments under DFR will be associated with a specific call for service or authorized public safety incident, with no discretionary flying. The program will include accountability and transparency measures, including a public-facing web portal providing information, such as drone flight times and general flight areas.
All drone footage will be securely stored within the department’s Axon Evidence digital evidence management system, which is designed to meet CJIS Security Policy requirements. The system uses encryption, multi-factor authentication, role-based access control, and detailed audit trails to protect evidence and track access. These safeguards help ensure that drone footage remains secure, accessible only to authorized personnel, and maintains its integrity and chain of custody.
Axon Enterprise, Inc. (Skydio Inc.) currently has a cooperative agreement through Omnia Partners contract #3544-21-4615, that meets all requirements established by the City of Costa Mesa’s Purchasing Policy and the State of California regarding regional, state, and national cooperative purchasing agreements. This process ensures the City receives the lowest available pricing and satisfies the competitive bid process requirements.
Collectively, these advancements demonstrate that the Costa Mesa Police Department is prepared to transition from a limited patrol-based model to a comprehensive, citywide autonomous drone launch program that enhances officer and community safety, improves response efficiency, decreases response times, and strengthens inter-departmental coordination.
ALTERNATIVES:
The City Council could elect not to authorize the purchase of the Skydio docking stations and drones; however, the Police Department may be unable to use available grant funding for this program. Beyond the immediate fiscal impact, non-authorization would limit the Police Department’s ability to deploy advanced aerial capabilities and could affect response times and situational awareness during critical incidents, search-and-rescue operations, and other calls for service where drone technology has proven essential to officer and community safety.
FISCAL REVIEW:
The cost of the hardware, software, and services, inclusive of the contingency, is in the amount of $300,000, for a term of two (2) years. Funding is available through the awarded Organized Retail Theft Prevention Grant (ORT) in the State Grants Fund (Fund 231).
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed this agenda report and approved it as to form.
CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES:
This item supports the City Council Goal:
• Strengthen the public’s safety and improve the quality of life.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Approve the purchase of three (3) drone docking stations and one (1) Skydio X-10 drone, including service and software through a cooperative agreement with Omnia Contract No. 3544-21-4615 in the amount of $292,144.59 for a term of two years.
2. Authorize a contingency in the amount of $7,855.41 for unforeseen costs.
3. Authorize the City Manager and City Clerk to execute an agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc. (Skydio Inc.), and any future amendments, in a form approved by the City Attorney.