by Matthew Holloway | Dec 20, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ-02) introduced legislation Thursday requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to deliver annual terrorism threat assessments on the hostile use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), citing the rapid spread of drone technology among foreign adversaries and terrorist organizations.
The bill, titled the Detecting and Evaluating Foreign Exploitation of Novel Drones (DEFEND) Act, would amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to strengthen congressional oversight of emerging UAS threats, according to a release from Crane’s office.
Crane’s bill would require DHS to evaluate drone-related risks to the United States, submit a classified annual report to Congress with an unclassified public annex, and provide a briefing within seven days of each report’s submission. The legislation is co-sponsored by members of the House Homeland Security Committee, including several subcommittee chairs.
In a post to X announcing the legislation, Crane wrote, “America must maintain a decisive tactical advantage over our adversaries.”
According to a release from Crane’s office, the measure is intended to help close an intelligence gap around drone threats and give Congress clearer insight into vulnerabilities in U.S. airspace.
Arizona has growing strategic exposure to unmanned aircraft system threats, given ongoing cartel drone activity along the state’s southern border; the presence of key military installations involved in UAS development and counter-UAS training, including Fort Huachuca, Yuma Proving Ground, Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, and Luke Air Force Base; and the state’s expanding commercial drone testing sector. Federal assessments in recent years have also warned that drones pose increasing risks to critical infrastructure sites, including energy, water, and transportation systems across the United States.
In the release announcing the legislation, Crane said Congress must act to close intelligence blind spots and “maintain tactical advantage over malign actors” seeking to exploit UAS capabilities, citing drone use in recent conflicts overseas.
“The DEFEND Act ensures Congress has the knowledge necessary to effectively allocate resources to defend our homeland. I encourage my colleagues to back this approach to close this intelligence blind spot,” he added.
Per congressional procedure, the bill will be referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security, where co-sponsors sit in leadership positions across the Committee’s oversight and cybersecurity panels.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Ethan Faverino | Dec 15, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
U.S. Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ02) joined forces with Reps. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ06), Janelle Bynum (D-OR), and Joe Neguse (D-CO) to introduce the Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act of 2025, a bipartisan measure aimed at enhancing the safety and effectiveness of aerial wildfire suppression operations.
The legislation mandates the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in close consultation with the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture, to conduct a comprehensive study on the disruptive effects of unauthorized drone activity over federal lands during active firefighting efforts.
The resulting report will equip Congress with critical insights to inform targeted policies that reduce risks and protect vital suppression resources.
Key elements of the study include gathering detailed data on the frequency of drone incursions, their direct impacts on firefighting operations, resulting delays in response times, and the additional financial burdens imposed on federal agencies.
It will further assess potential mitigation strategies, such as advanced counter-drone technologies and infrastructure, alongside robust public education initiatives to underscore the severe hazards posed by drone interference.
The FAA is required to deliver its findings and actionable policy recommendations to the appropriate congressional committees within 18 months of the bill’s enactment.
With Arizona facing recurrent and intense wildfires, coupled with a surge in unauthorized drone operations, Rep. Crane emphasized the urgent need to eliminate barriers that hinder effective fire management.
“I’m proud to co-introduce this bipartisan legislation to address the growing issue of drones interfering with aerial fire suppression efforts. Arizona is prone to devastating wildfires, and it’s imperative that we minimize obstruction and delays,” said Rep. Crane. “With our bill, Congress would have the necessary information to craft policies that help our firefighters combat wildfires before they get out of control. I urge my colleagues to support our approach.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Jul 9, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday, July 7th, that they will be launching a state-of-the-art drone pilot program. They will be partnering with Draganfly Inc. to bring a cutting-edge initiative designed to enhance surveillance and operational capabilities along the U.S.-Mexico border.
This aligns with President Donald Trump’s executive order, “Unleashing American Drone Dominance.” The order prioritizes the use of advanced unmanned aerial systems to strengthen national security.
Known for their innovative approach to border security, the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office continues to lead the way in technology integration.
They have previously deployed tools such as high-resolution camera networks, sensor-integrated mobile units, and ground surveillance radar systems, which they use for border enforcement.
The department has received national recognition from President Trump and Vice President JD Vance for their commitment to technology-driven border solutions.
“The Southern Border is one of America’s most critical national security frontiers. Our organization has always been committed to leveraging the best tools available,” said Captain Tim Williams. “With Draganfly as our drone partner, we’re entering the next phase of smart border enforcement. Their North American and U.S.-built systems will enhance our ability to protect communities, manage humanitarian concerns, and respond rapidly to evolving threats.”
Draganfly Inc., a leader in drone innovation, has been developing unmanned aerial solutions for over 20 years. They specialize in advanced aerial technology, software, and AI systems for emergency response, public safety, agriculture, and defense.
CEO of Draganfly, Cameron Chell, said, “We are honored to be working with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office for this historic program. Their team represents some of the best of American law enforcement: innovation-focused, community-minded, and mission-ready. This project embodies the spirit of President Trump’s executive order and sets a gold standard for how drone technology should be used to secure national borders.”
The new pilot program at the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office will use Draganfly’s “Family of Drones.”
It will feature long-endurance fixed-wing UAVs for extended surveillance, AI-powered quadcopters for rapid-response missions, and thermal imaging drones for search and rescue missions, as well as nighttime operations.
The “Family of Drones” is designed for rugged reliability and secure data handling, which will withstand the harsh and remote terrain of the Cochise County Border.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Feb 25, 2025 | News
By Daniel Stefanksi |
A bill to support the efforts of law enforcement on the streets of Arizona is progressing through the state legislature.
Last week, HB 2733 was approved by the Arizona House of Representatives Public Safety & Law Enforcement Committee. The bill, which was sponsored by State Representative David Marshall, “protects law enforcement officers from civil liability when taking down unmanned aircraft suspected of being used for criminal activities within 15 miles of the international border.”
In a statement released in conjunction with the bill’s progress, Representative Marshall said, “Arizona’s law enforcement officers are on the front lines of the fight against cartels and traffickers exploiting our border, and they need the ability to act decisively against criminal drone activity. These drones aren’t toys – they’re tools of organized crime, used to scout for weak points in our security and to smuggle fentanyl and other deadly drugs into our communities. HB 2733 makes sure that our officers can neutralize these threats without the fear of frivolous lawsuits.”
Marshall added, “This bill is a no-brainer. Law enforcement shouldn’t have to second-guess their ability to stop cartel drones from carrying drugs across the border. Our Majority is standing firm on securing Arizona, backing law enforcement, and taking action to keep dangerous criminals out of our communities.”
According to the press release issued by the Arizona House Republicans on the bill, “The rise in cartel drone activity has put additional pressure on Arizona’s law enforcement agencies, forcing officers to make quick decisions in real-time to prevent smuggling operations.” The proposal would give these law enforcement officials “the legal certainty they need to act without hesitation, protecting Arizona’s communities from the devastating consequences of cartel operations.”
The bill was passed by the House committee with a bipartisan vote of 10-0, though three members were absent and two voted ‘Present.’
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police signed in to support the bill, while a representative of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona indicated the organization’s opposition to the legislation. A representative from the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association signed in as neutral.
HB 2733 will now be considered by the full state House of Representatives in the near future.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Jun 14, 2024 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Fresh off of a budget approval that will only see a 0.2% increase in the Phoenix Police Department’s budget, an additional $27 million to be precise, the Department released its 2024 Crime Reduction Plan on Wednesday. The new plan carries over much of the previous plan from 2023 but adds an emphasis on firearm-related violence and the fentanyl epidemic. Also on order is a massive technological upgrade integrating controversial solutions such as drones and gun-shot detection equipment.
In a statement released by the City Newsroom, Interim Police Chief Michael Sullivan said, “We are losing far too many of our young people to gun violence, and the effects of the fentanyl epidemic on our community have been immense.”
Speaking to KTAR’s Mike Broomhead in a Wednesday interview, Sullivan explained, “If the public takes a look at the plan, you’ll see at the back we have some metrics and those are from things that we learned over the past year. We also looked at what we faced last year and added a couple really small changes focusing on juvenile crime. Something that… not just here in Phoenix but I think we’ve seen throughout the valley an uptick in juvenile crime that we saw last year and then really focusing in on the crime and disorder that’s related to the fentanyl epidemic.”
According to the release from the City Newsroom, in early 2024 the Phoenix Police Department constructed a Real Time Operations Center at the Cactus Park Precinct to utilize more technological avenues to reduce crime specifically in the 27th Avenue corridor.
The plan calls for Phoenix PD to:
“Increase technology tools to continue to assist with lowering crime in the City. This technology includes the Real Time Operations Centers, drones, license plate readers (LPRs), gun-shot detection equipment, fixed cameras and laptops for all patrol officers.”
A 2021 press release from ASU’s Artificial Intelligence Cloud Innovation Center shows the Phoenix PD launched the Firearm Location and Interdiction System (FLIS) combining “acoustical and visual sensors, data analytics and omni-channel data access to help Phoenix police officers and citizens identify perpetrators of gun crimes.” The system reportedly notifies PPD automatically when a gun shot is fired providing audio, video, and location data to the officers via an application.
“Investigators are able to use the application to access the universe of data associated with the incident location and other evidence like license plates, forensics, and known associates.”
A similar, commercially produced system known as Shotspotter by SoundThinking, Inc.. has garnered serious controversy over the past two years facing major opposition in Chicago from Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson as noted in Law Enforcement Today and from Democrats in Congress such as Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) as reported by The Boston Globe.
In an interview with AZFamily, Ed DeCastro, Assistant Chief over Investigations explained, “We’re using the community as an ally as a partner with us, which has been a tremendous help. We’ve opened up a real-time operations center, so the technology we’ve gotten as a city is tremendous, and we’re able to catch the suspects a lot faster.”
As outlined in Phoenix PD’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Use Guidelines published in 2022, the department may currently deploy drones in cases of: Vehicular Crimes, Violent Crimes/Homicide, Crime Scene/Criminal Investigation, Lab Evidence Collection, and Patrol/Investigative Support. Under tactical deployment, the drones are presently deployed for: tactical operational support, to provide enhanced levels of situational awareness during a tactical incident, and critical incident scene management.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
