DJI has recently been working with official emergency response groups to use drones after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and the massive fires in Yosemite National Park and in Northern California.

The later fires “marked the first time the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection authorized drone flights as part of the emergency response in a large-scale disaster,” DJI wrote in a release. “Menlo Park FPD used DJI equipment for more than 120 drone flights to provide situational awareness for authorities, assist with search and recovery efforts, and survey destroyed neighborhoods.”

The trail camera, commonly used by hunters and triggered by motion detectors, was located above the lieutenant’s dorm and bathroom and a dorm and bathroom for female firefighters.

There is no indication the camera was used to peep on people in the rooms below. TFD Deputy Chief Richard Jones said the camera, which took still photos only, did not shoot into private quarters.

But Dowdy said he was shocked to discover the camera, which he considered a violation of his employee rights and an invasion of his privacy.

The city pitched the plan earlier this year as a remedy to response times that were clocking in over its eight-minute goal in almost 20 percent of the calls.

The city wanted to move one of the city's ambulances from the station on Hiatus Road to a new station, at first created from trailers, on Kings Point property at a parking lot. Although the ambulance could be sent anywhere, the city expected the bulk of calls to be from within Kings Point.