Sacramento County approved the use of drones to find homeless encampments following approval of an $8.9 billion county budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year.
The Northern California county’s Probation Department request for drones was granted after budget discussions on Wednesday and authorization from the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
“These tools allow our supervision teams to access remote areas such as the American River Parkway, where traditional vehicles may be limited,” said Julie Wherry, interim chief probation officer, at the June 3 board meeting. “Drones would be used to help locate encampments not visible from public roads.”
The addition of such technology would also help provide water, food, clothing, and hygiene products to individuals living in areas that are difficult to access, according to Wherry. The department currently has three mobile outreach vans, two four-wheel drive trucks, and one all-terrain vehicle….