August 19, 2025

Santa Ana Police Push for Drone Funding Amid Community Concerns

News Summary

The Santa Ana Police Department is requesting $250,000 for drones, aiming to enhance emergency response. However, community members raise alarms about surveillance and fund allocation, advocating for community program funding instead. Amidst tensions regarding immigration enforcement and police tactics, the city navigates the divisive implications of this proposal as it seeks to address safety versus surveillance approaches.

Santa Ana — The Santa Ana Police Department is seeking $250,000 to purchase drones, which it claims will improve response times and aid tactical decisions during emergencies. The request is set to be presented to city leaders for approval on Tuesday. This proposal comes amid mounting community concerns regarding surveillance and the allocation of funds.

A recent state law mandates that law enforcement agencies obtain council approval when acquiring military equipment, including drones. As Santa Ana considers this acquisition, many residents are raising objections, arguing that the money could be better spent on vital community programs rather than technology perceived as enhancing surveillance capabilities.

The concerns are amplified by Santa Ana’s designation as the only openly declared sanctuary city in Orange County, where approximately 25% of the population consists of non-U.S. citizens. There is widespread apprehension regarding safety, particularly in light of heightened immigration enforcement actions. Criticism has intensified regarding potential misuse of facial recognition technology, as well as issues surrounding data storage and collection from these drones.

Commander Mat Sorenson of the Santa Ana Police Department asserted that the drones would serve strictly as a “reactionary tool” rather than for ongoing surveillance, and would only be deployed in response to specific calls for service. To ease community concerns, the police department is actively working on a drone-use policy, drawing on guidelines established by the American Civil Liberties Union aimed at preventing inappropriate use of the technology.

If the funding proposal is approved, Santa Ana would join a number of Southern California cities such as Los Angeles and Irvine, which have already integrated drones into their police operations. Community members have expressed widespread discontent during public meetings, advocating for a reallocation of funds from military-grade equipment to support essential community programs.

Compounding tensions in the community, the Santa Ana Police Department has faced criticism for its tactics during anti-ICE protests, notably from Councilmember Johnathan Hernandez, who recounted experiences of being shot with rubber bullets during a rally. This has fostered a lingering distrust among residents regarding the police department’s commitment to protecting them from Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions.

The introduction of Assembly Bill 481 in 2022 added additional scrutiny over military equipment usage by law enforcement agencies, requiring annual public reports. The Santa Ana Police Department has recently complied, providing a report last week after failing to do so in an earlier period. As the community grapples with discussions around policing and surveillance, public sentiment remains divided over the department’s funding priorities.

With engagements underway between city leaders and community members, the decision on whether to approve the $250,000 drone purchase remains a contentious topic in Santa Ana, highlighting broader conversations about safety, community welfare, and the balance of policing resources.