Item Number: 13
City Council / Board of Directors
Written Communications
Meeting of: October 7, 2025
Submitted By:
Tony Camargo, Deputy City Manager
Jerry Davenport, Police Captain
Subject:
Award of a Professional Services Provider Agreement to BRINC Drones, Inc. for the Implementation of the Drones as First Responder Program Recommendation:
That the Honorable City Council:
(1) Award a Professional Services Provider Agreement to BRINC Drones, Inc. for the implementation of the Drones as First Responder Program; (2) Adopt Resolution No. 25-070 to amend the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget; (3) Approve the expenditure of Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (SLESF) monies in the amount not to exceed $831,929.18 for the Drones as First Responder Program; and
(4) Authorize non-substantive changes to the Professional Services Provider Agreement, if necessary, as agreed upon by the City Manager and City Attorney.
Fiscal Impact:
The recommended action will have a fiscal impact of $831,929.18. The Professional Services Provider Agreement with BRINC Drones, Inc. (BRINC) is a three-year subscription priced at $254,997.45 per year, totaling $831,929.18, including sales tax.
Funds for this expenditure are maintained in the City of Victorville’s SLESF account pursuant to Assembly Bill 3229. Funds contained in the SLESF account are to be used exclusively to fund front-line municipal police services. The utilization of these funds will not affect the City’s General Fund, as there is an estimated cash balance of $1,563,949 in the specified account, which provides adequate funding for the term of this agreement.
This expense will be funded from the following account:
Account Amount
2702107-52300-20265 $831,929.18
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Alongside this item, staff is amending the budget to reflect revenues received for SLESF that has not been historically budgeted. These appropriations are outlined in Resolution No. 25-070 (Attachment A).
Strategic Plan Goal:
This item aligns with Strategic Goal B: Implement public safety strategies to support a thriving and growing community, as well as Strategy 7, by investing in technology that will assist efficient and effective police operations.
Background:
The Police Department, supported by the City Council, has prioritized technological improvements to proactively reduce crime in Victorville. The need for innovative technologies to assist police operations was identified as part of the City’s 2023-2026 Strategic Plan to support our growing community. In 2019, the City began investing in Automatic License Plate Reader (APLR) cameras throughout the City. The ALPR program included six phases and, upon completion, resulted in a total of 123 fixed cameras being strategically placed across Victorville. Furthermore, the City invested in ALPRs on patrol vehicles and a street sweeper to allow additional proactive efforts. Since this implementation, the ALPRs have yielded over 600 arrests for various crimes, including auto theft, robbery, attempted murder, assault/domestic violence, and terrorist threats.
On May 6, 2025, the City Council approved a Professional Services Provider Agreement with SoundThinking, Inc. for the implementation of ShotSpotter Gunshot Detection Technology. This technology allows the Police Department to utilize sensors strategically placed in the City to detect gunshots, which can determine whether multiple weapons are involved, the types of weapons involved (including whether high-capacity and/or automatic weapons were used), and by utilizing its sound detection triangulation, it can pinpoint the location where the sound originated within an 82 ft. radius. This information is invaluable to responding officers in determining their tactical approach and drastically decreasing response times. Since ShotSpotter's launch on June 25, 2025, 26 gunshot detections have occurred, with only eight reported to the 9-1-1 system. These confirmed gunshots have yielded four at-scene arrests, five investigations, and five firearms recovered.
In addition to the City's technological investments, the Police Department is continually exploring other proactive methods. To support these initiatives, the Police Department has introduced two gun-detection K-9 units and expanded its surveillance camera network. These enhancements enable our deputies to take a proactive approach in preventing crime, thereby enhancing the security and safety of our citizens.
Discussion:
Small, remotely operated Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), commonly known as “drones,” are increasingly recognized as an efficient and effective tool for law enforcement. These drones provide critical information necessary for deputies responding to service calls, emergency situations, and conducting investigations. The implementation of the Drones as First Responder (DFR) Program by the Police 4 3
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Department will enable quicker responses to crimes in progress, facilitate the apprehension of suspects, and assist in conducting thorough investigations. The DFR Program will enhance safety for both public safety personnel and citizens, while also improving proactive and reactive patrols. This will allow deputies to focus on higher- priority calls for service.
The DFR Program will comprise a network of drones strategically positioned throughout the City in automated launch sites, prepared to respond to service calls. After analyzing call volume data, it was determined that the three automated launch sites will be located at the Victorville Police Station, Fire Station 311, and Fire Station 312. These launch sites will offer adequate coverage in the areas of the City with higher call volumes.
The drones are remotely operated by an FAA-licensed pilot, situated at the Police Department. Each drone has an onboard camera that will stream high-definition video to the Police Department’s real-time crime center, providing information on the call that is being responded to, such as the location of the disturbance, relevant descriptions, and direction of travel. Since these drones provide overwatch, they are useful in confirming or ruling out the presence of weapons and any other safety concerns, which is a valuable de-escalation tool. Overall, the use of drones greatly enhances situational awareness for responding officers.
In collaboration with the Police Department, staff have engaged with multiple drone companies that offer a DFR function and have determined that BRINC is the most appropriate product to meet the City's requirements. BRINC drones are designed for public safety and can integrate with department systems such as Computer Assisted Dispatching (CAD), ShotSpotter, and ALPR cameras.
Staff will be utilizing a national cooperative purchasing contract with BRINC through NPPGov. This is a publicly solicited contract for government agencies that is competitively bid and awarded in compliance with applicable procurement regulations, allowing agencies to streamline the purchasing process while ensuring transparency, compliance, and cost savings. The Professional Services Provider Agreement with BRINC is a three- year subscription priced at $254,997.45 per year, totaling $831,929.18, including sales tax. The three-year subscription provides a 15% discount annually, resulting in savings of $134,998.65. The contract includes the installation and maintenance of the DFR, staff training, parachute attachments, the LiveOps streaming platform, and a no-questions- asked policy for any repairs/replacement on all airframes. This covers all repairs and drone replacement at no cost for three years. Among its competitors, BRINC Drones was the only one that included free repairs and replacement.
BRINC, known for its advanced capabilities, is currently deployed in California cities such as Newport Beach, Pomona, Oxnard, Clovis, and Hillsborough. The DFR Program in these cities has shown great success in reducing overall police response times and demonstrated the ability to respond to a variety of call types, including:
Disturbances
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Welfare Checks
Persons in Crisis
Domestic Disturbances
Suspicious Persons
Assaults
Therefore, staff recommends that the City Council award the Professional Services Provider Agreement with BRINC Drones, Inc. for the implementation of the Drones as First Responder Program in an amount not to exceed $831,929.18 for a three-year term and adopt Resolution No. 25-070, amending the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget for the related expense and SLESF revenue that will fund the program.
Staff remains available for any questions the Council may have.
Prepared By:
Tony Camargo, Deputy City Manager
Darcy Mahoney-Henson, Administrative Analyst
Attachments: A. Resolution No. 25-070
B. Professional Services Agreement
C. Victorville Coverage Area Map
D. NPPGov Cooperative Agreement with BRINC Drones, Inc.