Nevada County Sheriff | Drones
The Sheriff's 2025 military equipment report lists four Skydio X10 drones in a program the Board approved in 2024, and states an intention to seek approval for DJI Avata drones that "will fly in smaller environments such as residences."
How it happened
- Decision
Program launched with Board approval
The report says the office "relied on outside agencies for traditional aircraft and drones until the program was launched with Board of Supervisor approval in 2024." [1]
- Context
2025 annual report
Four Skydio X10 aircraft in inventory; "Typically utilized during exigent circumstances or through execution of a search warrant"; an intention to acquire DJI Avata or similar drones in 2026 if authorized. [1]
What the report says
The Sheriff’s 2025 annual military equipment report lists the Skydio X10 as “a remote-controlled drone that can be flown overhead in locations where traditional aircraft cannot,” states that the office “relied on outside agencies for traditional aircraft and drones until the program was launched with Board of Supervisor approval in 2024,” gives a cost of $13,000 in 2024, an inventory of four, and the governing rule as “Lexipol Policy 606. Typically utilized during exigent circumstances or through execution of a search warrant.”[1]
What is planned
Under equipment sought for 2026, the report states: “If authorized by the Nevada County Board of Supervisors, the Sheriff’s Office intends to acquire several DJI Avata or similar drones. These drones will fly in smaller environments such as residences. During such occasions, flights on the interior of residences or buildings are primarily done after the authorization of a search warrant” or in exigent circumstances.[1] The document is served from a county URL that names 2024; its title page reads 2025.
Questions
- What drones does the Sheriff's Office have?
- The 2025 report lists four Skydio X10 aircraft with an infrared camera, under Policy 606. [1]
- What is planned?
- The report says that, if the Board authorizes it, the office intends to acquire several DJI Avata or similar drones that "will fly in smaller environments such as residences," primarily after a search warrant or in exigent circumstances. [1]
What we do not know
- The 2024 Board item approving the program and the purchase record.
- Whether the Avata acquisition came before the Board in 2026.
- Flight logs and deployments by type.
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 Nevada County.
What we have documented in Nevada County →Protect yourself
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Surveillance Self-Defense →Sources
- 1. Nevada County Sheriff's Office, 2025 AB 481 Military Equipment Annual Report · Primary document · accessed
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