Santa Rosa's police department is considering the use of drones by first responders in certain crimes and natural disasters.

A community meeting to discuss the possibilities will be held on Jan. 22 at the City of Santa Rosa Utilities Field Operations Building. That's at 35 Stony Point Road.

The topic will also be aired at the end of the month at a public safety subcommittee meeting in city hall's council chamber.

The department says drones equipped with cameras, thermal sensors and other technology could provide immediate assistance in emergencies, often before traditional first responders can reach the scene, and that they're also far less expensive to operate than helicopters and other vehicles.

SRPD also suggests drones could give authorities access to remote or hard-to-reach areas such as rough terrain, flooded regions, or collapsed buildings.

Opponents of the plan are concerned about the effect of drones on privacy and civil liberties.