drone patrols over southern california are helping catch criminals, but, as ken delainian reports, some critics worry all that access could compromise privacy. >> reporter: an eye in the sky helping police deescalate gun confrontations, catch drug dealers and put away violent criminals. >> about 88% to 90% of the time the drone is first on scene before any of our officers in the scene arrive >> will be responding east >> reporter: in beach side, santa monica, peter can survey a city block for a reported suspicious person from a chapd ce command scenter a while away or zoom in to read a license plate. footage was used to convict an attacker >> how have these drones changed the way your department does its work >> it's a fundamental change it allows an experienced police officer see what's going on in real time and communicate those facts to the officers responding >> reporter: they say the drone's eye view can prevent officer from overreacting. santa monica police got a call last year of a man with a gun. at first drone footage appeared to confirm it. >> as you watch him, you can see him