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Agency records · CA

Chula Vista Police Department

Drone program records for Chula Vista. Each fact keeps its source and checked date.

Written rules describe policy, not proof that every operation follows it. Reported equipment totals and mapped source locations have different scopes. A launch facility is not a drone count or a flight track.

Program status reported by the source

The city describes a Drone as First Responder program that began deploying from police headquarters on October 22, 2018. A historical start is not a current fleet or launch-site inventory.

Source section DFR Program Overview. Checked 2026-10-24; source date 2018-10-22.

What the public record establishes

The historical overview says a fifth launch site was added in November 2021. The embedded activity dashboard instead displays four launch sites in an undated status annotation. The annotation is not dated by the dashboard's latest incident timestamp. No current exact physical launch count, specific removed site or continuity at each historical location is inferred. Launch sites are not numbers of aircraft.

Source section DFR Program Overview and embedded Drone-Related Activity Dashboard. Checked 2026-10-24.

Data retention

The storage FAQ describes Evidence.com storage and a period of one year or less, unless material is categorized as evidence in an actual crime or formal investigation. Such material follows retention consistent with other evidence for that incident or investigation. This is the posted rule, not an independently verified storage setting or deletion audit.

Source section Where is the video and photos taken by the UAS stored?. Checked 2026-10-24.

Access and oversight

Only authorized operators with required training may operate UAS. Deployment requires authorization from the chief or an authorized designee, depending on mission type. The coordinator develops mission-documentation protocols and monitors compliance with periodic reports to the chief.

Source section 613.4-613.5, PDF pages 1-2. Checked 2026-10-24.

Recording rules

Absent a warrant or exigent circumstances, the rule prohibits intentional recording or transmission where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy and requires precautions against incidental capture. Random surveillance, harassment, discrimination, personal business and weaponization are prohibited.

Source section 613.3 and 613.6, PDF pages 1-2. Checked 2026-10-24.

Sharing rules

When fire-department UAS operators assist police at a crime scene, Policy 613.8 directs all obtained data and evidence to police for chain of custody and police retention standards. This is a conditional written procedure, not a verified current recipient list.

Source section 613.8, PDF page 3. Checked 2026-10-24.

Technology named in the source

Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), Drone as First Responder (DFR)

Source. Checked 2026-10-24.

Details not yet verified

Drone vendors, Reported drones, Operational partners, Named data-sharing partners, Contract value, Contract start date, Contract end date. No value is inferred from a county map count or another agency's policy.

Source documents

Local map

San Diego County camera guide. The county map includes source points from multiple operators. It is not this agency's inventory.

Open county map

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