The San Francisco Police Department has significantly expanded its technological capabilities in 2024, deploying DJI Matrice 30T drones as part of a comprehensive surveillance upgrade that includes automated license plate readers and mobile security cameras. The initiative marks the department’s first return to aerial operations since disbanding its helicopter unit over two decades ago, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.
The deployment of the DJI Matrice 30T platform represents a major shift in SFPD’s approach to urban surveillance and pursuit operations. These enterprise-grade drones have conducted 240 missions since their introduction in March, primarily supporting ground units in tracking suspects while maintaining a safe distance.
“The drones have changed the way that we do police work,” explains Sgt. Eric Batchelder, SFPD’s unmanned aircraft system manager. The technology allows officers to maintain visual contact with suspects without risking direct confrontation, enabling more strategic response planning…