Across Texas, law enforcement agencies have turned to drones for one simple reason: they save lives. These tools are no longer futuristic novelties. They are vital partners in the field – flying into dangerous situations so our officers don’t have to, scanning miles of difficult terrain in seconds, and helping us de-escalate tense encounters before lives are put in danger.
In addition to supporting law enforcement, drones also aid various Texas public safety agencies, including fire and rescue, parks and wildlife departments, the Department of Public Safety and other search and rescue organizations. It’s safe to say that drones have a significant statewide impact on community safety by protecting both residents and those risking their lives on the frontlines.
Here in Houston, agencies have used drones for a wide range of things. After Hurricane Harvey hit back in 2017, Houston area first responders were able to use drones to view the natural disaster from above to bolster their clean up and recovery efforts. Fire and rescue has been able to investigate catastrophic flooding, crashes and wildfires, while law enforcement has used these devices to catch criminals on the run or hiding in discrete and hard-to-reach areas.
However, legislation in Texas threatens to ground this life-saving technology, not based on performance or safety concerns, but based solely on the country in which a drone or its components were manufactured. This kind of blanket approach is not how public safety decisions should be made and those dependent on this technology have greatly spoken out against its proposed measures.
The proposed House Bill 41 would restrict any agency from using drones based on their country of origin. While we support efforts to keep our systems secure, any policy must be rooted in data, operational security, and risk mitigation – not politics or oversimplified narratives.
The reality is that we already follow strict cybersecurity protocols and data protection standards in every deployment. Our drones don’t operate on open networks or transmit sensitive data to third parties. They are tools much like radios, cell phones, or body cameras, many of which are assembled overseas, but meet U.S. security and quality standards.
We’re not asking for a blank check. We’re asking for a fair and informed transition.
A smarter approach would allow the state to develop rigorous, country-agnostic procurement standards that focus on real security risks – not just the country printed on a label. If there are concerns, let’s identify and mitigate them. But let’s not throw out an entire category of public safety tools when there are hardly any comparable alternatives on the market.
Rushing to eliminate drones from Texas law enforcement would not only endanger officers and bystanders, but it would also waste taxpayer dollars. Many departments have already invested thousands of dollars and hours of training into these programs. The sudden removal of functional, life-saving equipment means agencies would be forced to find costly replacements – or worse, go without them.
Consider what drones are already doing for Texas. In rural counties, drones give us eyes where helicopters can’t go – in floods, wildfires, and search-and-rescue missions. In high-risk situations, they fly into buildings or over barricades, helping us pinpoint suspects or confirm threats without exposing officers to harm. Agencies have also used drones to locate missing children, de-escalate dangerous standoffs, and provide critical oversight during natural disasters.
These are real-world benefits. That’s why if this bill passes without an appropriate alternative framework or sufficient off ramp target, those capabilities could vanish overnight.
Texas lawmakers must hit the brakes on HB41 and listen to the men and women who serve on the front lines of public safety. Talk to the departments already using drones to save lives. Understand the impact of what this legislation would mean and who it would hurt most.
Technology evolves quickly. Policy should, too. But in our effort to secure systems, we must not undermine safety.
Drones are saving lives. Let’s make sure politics doesn’t stop them.
Donnie Platt is a retired Lieutenant in the Harris County Sheriffs Office who flew drones, helicopters and airplanes. He now flies manned aircraft and owns a flight management company, Innovative Transportation Management, LLC.