Merced County Sheriff | Drones
The Sheriff's 2025 annual report lists eight aircraft and 725 uses during the year. It reports no policy violations and no complaints found in the records reviewed for the report.
How it happened
- Context
Annual report records 725 uses
The report lists eight aircraft and says they were used 725 times. It reports no policy violations and no complaints or concerns in the records reviewed for the report. [1]
- Decision
Board schedules the annual public hearing
The Board agenda and public notice provide the annual AB 481 hearing for the Sheriff's military-equipment report. [3]
What the Sheriff reported
The 2025 annual report lists eight aircraft: two DJI Mavic 3T Enterprise units, one DJI Mavic 3E, one DJI Matrice 300 RTK, two DJI Avata 2 units, one DJI Matrice 30T, and one Skydio X10. The listed acquisition costs range from zero for the Skydio to $29,080.28 for the Matrice 300 RTK.[1]
The report says the program was used 725 times during 2025. It reports no policy violations and says the records inspected for the report contained no complaints or concerns.[1]
The Board’s July 14, 2026 agenda and public notice provided the annual hearing for the Sheriff’s military-equipment report.[3]
What governs flights
Policy 613 requires authorized, trained operators and directs the program coordinator to maintain flight records and protect collected evidence. It limits recording where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy unless a warrant or urgent exception applies.[2]
The policy prohibits random surveillance, targeting based only on protected characteristics, harassment, personal use, and weaponization. It refers retention to the records schedule but does not state a period.[2]
Questions
- How many drones does the Merced County Sheriff list?
- The 2025 report lists eight: two DJI Mavic 3T Enterprise units, one Mavic 3E, one Matrice 300 RTK, two Avata 2 units, one Matrice 30T, and one Skydio X10. [1]
- How often were the drones used?
- The Sheriff reports 725 uses during calendar year 2025. [1]
- Can the drones be weaponized or used for random surveillance?
- Policy 613 prohibits weaponization and random surveillance. [2]
- How long is drone footage kept?
- Policy 613 refers to the agency records schedule but does not state a specific period. [2]
What we do not know
- What mission categories account for the 725 uses?
- Which aircraft remain operational and how many flight hours did each record?
- What retention schedule applies to each category of imagery and telemetry?
- Which other agencies requested or received drone assistance or data?
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 Merced County.
What we have documented in Merced 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. Merced County Sheriff's Office 2025 AB 481 annual report · Primary document · · accessed
- 2. Merced County Sheriff's Office policy manual, Policy 613 · Primary document · · accessed · archived copy
- 3. Merced County Board of Supervisors agenda, July 14, 2026 · Meeting record · · accessed · archived copy
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