It started with a question: How do you deliver timely, trusted and tactical information to the right people, at the right time, in the most dynamic environments?
For the Elk Grove (California) Police Department, the answer wasn’t just to invest in new technology, it was to reimagine how that technology could work together. From fixed cameras to drones, and from field deployments to public events, the department’s approach to real-time policing is rooted in thoughtful planning, community transparency and a relentless focus on officer safety.
Lt. Nate Lange and Sgt. Nick Range have watched that vision come to life and helped lead the charge. They’ve sat behind the screens of a real-time information center and stood on the ground during tactical deployments. They’ve seen what happens when critical information is delayed and what becomes possible when it isn’t.
Their approach isn’t about flash or scale. It’s about function. It’s about trust. And it’s about what’s next.
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From blueprint to real-time results
Before Elk Grove ever launched a drone, they laid the foundation for what would become a critical hub: their real-time information center (RTIC). Originally envisioned by former Chief Bryan Noblett as a centralized space for authenticated, department-wide communication, the department’s RTIC quickly proved its value — even before the agency had a formal drone program in place.
Early in the pandemic, it became the department’s central hub for distributing operational changes, daily updates and policy shifts. When Elk Grove experienced catastrophic flooding and levee breaks, its RTIC was used to distribute manually deployed drone footage and video to external agencies — a precursor to the integrated Drone as First Responder (DFR) program they would later build.
“We utilized the real-time center as a central hub of communication through the county to deploy resources,” Lange said. “We were helping outside entities by distributing drone feeds and video so they could determine where to send help.”
That groundwork made the decision to house Elk Grove’s drone program inside its RTIC a natural one: “RTIC was already in control of the fixed cameras, the pan-tilt-zoom systems. We were just giving them access to another angle — another set of eyes in the sky,” Range said.
But true integration meant more than just plugging in a drone feed. It meant building workflows, rethinking staffing models and preparing the department for a new kind of response capability.
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“We had to get creative,” Range explained. “At first, we didn’t have full-time positions, so we pulled from our 30 drone pilots and rotated them through — one or two DFR shifts a month.”
That rotating model made consistency difficult: “It’s hard to become a subject matter expert when you’re only sitting in the seat once or twice a month,” Range added.
When the department added full-time DFR staff, the impact was immediate. “It made a huge difference,” Range said. “The continuity, the experience — it’s just more cohesive now.”
That cohesion also drives response.
Elk Grove’s integrated model enables near-instant deployments — often before officers are even en route. “With Live911, we can often launch before the call even hits dispatch,” Range said. “We call it negative response time — we want to have eyes on the scene before the officer even gets in the car.”
Elk Grove’s DFR program delivers real-time video to their RTIC team within minutes of a 911 call — helping officers respond faster, smarter and safer. Learn how it’s changing the way they serve their community.
A force multiplier
The integration of DFR and RTIC didn’t just streamline response — it reshaped how Elk Grove approaches public safety. From tactical operations to quality-of-life issues, the technology has become a flexible, everyday tool.
“The Fourth of July is a big deal here,” Range said. “We get house fires every year from illegal fireworks.” This year, the department flew drones continuously, working alongside code enforcement — with code enforcement staff stationed directly inside RTIC to monitor and respond in real time. “It was a huge success,” he added.
And it’s not just high-profile calls: “Traditional grid searches took hours,” Lange explained. “Now we can rule out areas in seconds. We use fixed cameras to backtrack movements and DFR to focus our search. It’s incredibly effective.”
Drone feeds are accessible to officers in the field through Flock OS. Range noted that a mobile app version is being tested in beta and may be available soon. “We’re not hovering over scenes once they’re secure,” Range emphasized. “We get there, provide the intel and disengage. It’s about officer safety and efficiency — not surveillance.”
That operational efficiency has also contributed to significant community support. In California, where surveillance skepticism is high, Elk Grove has taken a proactive approach.
“We post every drone flight on a public-facing portal,” Lange said. “You can see the type of call, where we deployed and why. We don’t even do that with patrol cars.”
That openness carries over to every community event. Elk Grove doesn’t just set up a drone booth — they staff it with knowledgeable operators who can speak directly to how and why the technology is used.
“It’s not enough to just have cool tech on display,” Lange said. “You need operators there who can explain what drones do and what they don’t. That kind of transparency builds trust. And trust is everything.”
Planning for tomorrow
From the start, Lange and Range were encouraged to think big and think ahead.
“We didn’t want pilots on roofs,” Lange said. “That’s not scalable. So we built out integration with CAD and made sure our platform could talk to our other systems.”
But innovation doesn’t stop at integration. Their next challenge is anticipating external threats — like unauthorized drones entering emergency airspace. “These drones are easy to get and payloads are getting bigger,” Lange said. “They can carry more weight, they can carry liquids, powders … anything that could be used against us.”
Recent events in Texas and California, where civilian drones interfered with first responder aircraft during emergencies, have only reinforced the urgency: “That can’t happen,” Lange said. “Especially not from law enforcement drones. And when it does happen, everyone turns to us to figure it out.”
Unfortunately, local agencies currently lack the authority to use counter-drone tools. But that isn’t stopping Elk Grove from preparing.
“We’re doing the back-end work now,” Range said. “We’re staying fluid. Because the airspace is changing fast and we have to be ready.”
That readiness mindset also applies to emerging radar systems and layered airspace awareness — areas both leaders say are on their radar. “We’re watching what’s out there and staying connected with others who are working on the same problems,” Lange said. “When we’re given the green light, we won’t be starting from scratch.”
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Scaling with strategy
Funding often makes or breaks innovation. But in Elk Grove’s case, planning came first. A 1% public safety use tax, approved by voters in 2022, gave the department the resources they needed to launch DFR operations in 2023. But the work started long before the money arrived.
“We didn’t wait for money,” Lange said. “We did the homework first. We knew what we wanted, had our presentations ready, visited other agencies, vetted vendors. So when the funds were available, we executed immediately.”
Lange and Range recommend other departments take the same approach: build the case before the budget. “You can preemptively set aside money,” Lange said. “You don’t have to wait until you’ve got the full amount. Start allocating early, keep your options open and keep pressure on your vendors.”
That includes staying flexible with contracts and avoiding long-term commitments when the landscape is changing fast: “You’ve got to keep your vendors honest and keep yourself accountable to your community,” Lange said.
And for agencies worried they’re not big enough to do what Elk Grove has done?
“You don’t need a massive command center,” Lange said. “It’s a couple of rooms, the right people and the right vision.”
That philosophy — start with what you have and build momentum — continues to guide their work. Lange and Range encourage other departments to focus less on size and more on sustainability, sharing their experience with agencies from coast to coast.
“These tools are too important,” Lange said. “Start small. Get effective. And then grow.”
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Leading with people
Throughout their journey, both Lange and Range say the success of Elk Grove’s model hasn’t just come down to the tools — it’s come down to the people. And not just anyone — the right people.
“The tools matter. But people matter more,” Range said. “You need operators who want to be there. Who care about the mission. That’s what makes this work.”
That passion shows up in everything from staffing DFR flights to managing the complex coordination between RTIC, patrol officers and community partners. Both leaders emphasized the importance of choosing personnel who are not only skilled but deeply invested in the success of the program.
Lange noted that internal buy-in is just as critical as community support: “If patrol doesn’t see the value in it and they don’t ask for it, then we’ve got a very expensive DFR program that doesn’t deploy. It requires intentionality to show everyone the value — from top to bottom.”
That mission, they say, hasn’t changed.
“Anyone can do this,” Lange said. “You don’t need a NASA-style command center. You need the right people, the right mindset and a commitment to doing what’s best for your community.”
From negative response times to reducing call volumes, Elk Grove’s program is proving that integration isn’t just possible — it’s powerful.
