SFPD Drone Program Hailed for 600 Arrests, Then Hit With Security Breach

The San Francisco Police Commission's July 15 meeting opened with celebration of its drone program — and pivoted quickly to damage control after a magazine exposé revealed publicly accessible drone footage. Across a packed agenda, commissioners also pressed the chief on Trans March accountability, flagged an upcoming audit of the department's controversial license plate reader system, and heard a crisis worker's urgent warning about the loss of peer counselors from the city's behavioral health response.

• Part 1 crimes down 21% year-to-date, with auto burglaries plummeting 40% — but homicides are up from 13 to 16

• Wired magazine exposé revealed publicly discoverable links to SFPD drone footage; Chief says all 20 recorded incidents were in-policy and the vulnerability has been closed

• Commissioner flags upcoming DPA audit of Flock ALPR surveillance system after LAPD drops its own Flock contract

• Chief postpones Trans March town hall, citing active criminal investigations; commissioners push alternative community engagement formats

• Crisis worker warns Fire Department plans to remove peer counselors from Street Crisis Response Team, threatening police de-escalation capacity

• Commission unanimously approves expanded temporary modified duty policy covering civilian employees for the first time since 2004

The basics: SFPD's Phoenix Drone as First Responder program has become a centerpiece of the department's crime-reduction strategy, using drones launched from rooftops to provide aerial support for officers responding to violent crimes, stolen vehicles and search warrants. The program operates out of the Real Time Investigation Center.