Minnetonka First Responder Arrives in 60 Seconds. It’s a Drone.

When you call 911, the minutes it takes for police or paramedics to arrive can feel like an eternity. But in the city of Minnetonka, Minnesota, a new first responder is arriving on scene in seconds, and it doesn’t drive a car. It flies. And as KARE11 told us, we bring it to you.

Minnetonka has launched an ambitious “Drone as a First Responder” (DFR) program, a system designed to give police and fire departments an immediate eye in the sky during an emergency. By placing automated drones on the rooftops of fire stations, they’ve created a network that can provide critical intelligence before human responders even get their boots on.

How it Works: The Rooftop Responders

The concept is both simple and brilliant. The city has installed six specialized Skydio drones on the rooftops of four fire stations, strategically placed to cover the entire area. When a 911 call comes in, an officer can launch a drone with the push of a button.

The drone then takes off, flies autonomously to the scene, and begins streaming live video back to the command center. There’s no need for a pilot to drive to a location and find a safe place to take off. The response is instantaneous. Minnetonka Police Chief Scott Boerboom notes that the drones can often arrive on scene within minutes, sometimes even before officers or paramedics.

These aren’t your standard camera drones. They are equipped with thermal cameras, speakers, and lights. For safety, the drone’s camera is pointed at the horizon during flight and only focuses on the scene upon arrival, and every drone has a parachute in case of an emergency.

A “No-Brainer” for Public Safety

The main goal of the DFR program is to give first responders situational awareness. Are there active threats? Where exactly is the injured person? Is the fire bigger than reported? Knowing the answers to these questions before they arrive can dramatically change how they respond, making the situation safer for everyone.

During a recent demonstration, the city showed how an injured person with a leg laceration was quickly found in thick brush near a creek using the drone’s thermal camera. This is a perfect example of the program’s power. A search that could have taken a ground team precious minutes was completed in seconds from the air.

Mayor Brad Wiersum called the program a “no-brainer,” and it’s easy to see why. For a cost of around $265,000 a year, the city has a tool that can be used for law enforcement, firefighting, public works, and even city communications. It’s a force multiplier that makes every department more effective.

The Future of Emergency Response

Minnetonka isn’t the first city to use drones, but their city-wide, integrated DFR program is on the cutting edge. It represents a fundamental shift from using drones as a reactive tool (bringing a drone to a scene) to using them as a proactive one (launching a drone as the very first action).

The program has been so successful and well-received that other agencies across Minnesota are already reaching out to Skydio to learn more. This is likely the model we will see adopted by cities and towns across the country in the coming years. It’s efficient, it’s relatively affordable, and most importantly, it has the potential to save lives.

The DroneXL Take

From my perspective as a long-time droner, this is the future. This is the moment where drones stop being a “special tool” for specific situations and become a fully integrated, essential part of a city’s emergency infrastructure, just like a fire truck or an ambulance.

What I find most impressive here is the trust being placed in the technology. The idea of autonomous drones launching from rooftops and flying themselves across a city would have been unthinkable just five years ago. It’s a testament to how reliable and safe these systems have become. The Minnetonka Police Department’s confidence in the program sends a powerful message that this technology is ready for prime time.

This program is a massive win for public perception. Every time one of these drones helps find a missing person, de-escalates a dangerous situation, or helps firefighters tackle a blaze more effectively, it builds public trust. It shows people that a drone’s primary purpose isn’t just taking pictures, but protecting communities. And that’s a story we should all be excited to tell. It’s a profound and inspiring step forward for the entire drone industry.

Photographs courtesy of KARE11