El Dorado County Sheriff | Drones
The Sheriff's 2026 military equipment report inventories fifteen drones across seven models, thirteen of them DJI and two BRINC Lemur. The civil grand jury reported in 2020 that the office launched its first drone in 2016 and assigns ten deputies and two sergeants to its Drone Unit.
How it happened
- Deployment
First drone
The 2019-2020 grand jury reported that "The Sheriff's Office launched their first drone in 2016." [2]
- Context
Grand jury report on county drone use
Ten deputies and two sergeants assigned; deployment "requires written authorization by the Sheriff or an authorized designee"; annual budget $20,488. [2]
- Decision
Military equipment ordinance adopted
The Board approved final passage of Ordinance 5160, establishing the office's military equipment use policy (File 22-0758). [3]
- Context
2026 annual report inventory
One DJI Matrice 300, one DJI Matrice 30T, two DJI Inspire, three DJI Mavic Enterprise, four DJI Mavic Mini, two DJI Phantom, and two BRINC Lemur. [1]
What the grand jury reported
The 2019-2020 civil grand jury’s report on county drone use states that “There are ten deputies and two sergeants assigned to the Drone Unit,” that “The Sheriff’s Office launched their first drone in 2016,” that “Drone deployment requires written authorization by the Sheriff or an authorized designee,” and that “The Sheriff’s annual budget for on-going drone operations is $20,488.”[2]
What the inventory lists
The office’s 2026 annual military equipment report lists one DJI Matrice 300, one DJI Matrice 30T, two DJI Inspire, three DJI Mavic Enterprise, four DJI Mavic Mini, two DJI Phantom and two BRINC Lemur aircraft, with purposes that include collision investigation, missing-person searches, crime scene photography and tactical missions.[1] The governing policy was adopted by the Board as Ordinance 5160 on May 24, 2022.[3]
Questions
- How many drones does the Sheriff's Office have?
- The 2026 annual report lists fifteen aircraft across seven models, thirteen DJI and two BRINC Lemur. [1]
- Who authorizes a flight?
- The 2020 grand jury reported that "Drone deployment requires written authorization by the Sheriff or an authorized designee." [2]
What we do not know
- Deployments by type in the 2025 and 2026 reports, and any complaints.
- The current drone policy text and retention rules for imagery.
What you can do
Show up
Systems like this one are approved by boards, councils and committees that meet in public. We have not yet confirmed where each of them meets in El Dorado County.
What we have documented in El Dorado County →Protect yourself
Practical steps to shrink your personal data trail. Our guides publish at launch; until then, EFF's Surveillance Self-Defense is the best starting point.
Surveillance Self-Defense →Sources
- 1. El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, Annual Military Equipment Report and Use Policy 2026 · Primary document · accessed · archived copy · our copy (794 KB)
- 2. El Dorado County Grand Jury 2019-2020, County Drone Use, Case 19-09 · Primary document · · accessed · archived copy · our copy (307 KB)
- 3. El Dorado County Board of Supervisors, File 22-0758, Ordinance 5160 Military Equipment Use Policy · Meeting record · · accessed · archived copy
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