Milwaukee Police Launch Drone First Responders

When every second counts, Milwaukee police are now letting a drone beat the squad car to the scene as the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. The Milwaukee Police Department has officially launched its Drone as First Responder program, and yes, the drones doing the heavy lifting are Skydio X10s, not DJI, not Autel, not a mystery quadcopter hiding in the fog.

The program was announced on January 14 and has already been quietly reshaping how officers respond to serious 911 calls across large sections of the city.

How Milwaukee’s Drone First Responders Operate

Milwaukee’s drones are deployed from Police District Seven and respond to emergency calls in districts three, five, and seven, covering much of the city’s north and west sides. Instead of waiting for officers to arrive, a Skydio X10 is launched within moments of a high priority call.

The department currently operates three drones, flown by a dedicated team of trained police pilots. In just the first week of operation, those drones responded to approximately 120 calls. That is not a trial run. That is immediate operational use.

Police say the focus is on violent crimes and serious incidents where situational awareness matters most. When the drone arrives first, officers get live video of what is actually happening on the ground. Who is present. Who is leaving. Where suspects are moving. That information is relayed to responding units in real time.

One recent example involved a reported restraining order violation. The Skydio X10 reached the scene, located the suspect, and tracked him as he fled to a nearby gas station. Officers were directed straight to the location, leading to a swift arrest without a prolonged search or escalation.

Why the Skydio X10 Fits This Mission

Milwaukee’s choice of the Skydio X10 makes sense for this kind of work. The X10 is designed specifically for public safety and enterprise missions, with a strong emphasis on autonomous flight and obstacle avoidance.

Unlike traditional drones that demand constant manual control, the X10 can navigate complex urban environments with minimal pilot input. Trees, power lines, buildings, none of them are deal breakers. That matters when you are launching from rooftops and flying into unpredictable scenes.

The drone also carries both visual and thermal sensors, allowing officers to detect people in low light or obscured conditions. For nighttime calls or suspects attempting to hide, thermal vision turns guesswork into certainty.

Another key factor is speed. The Skydio X10 can be airborne in seconds and does not need sirens, lights, or traffic gaps. It simply goes. That ability to arrive quietly and early is exactly why departments across the U.S. are adopting similar programs.

Milwaukee is believed to be the first department in Wisconsin to deploy drones as pseudo first responders, and one of roughly 50 nationwide currently doing so.

Privacy Concerns and Oversight Questions

Not everyone is thrilled about more eyes in the sky.

Civil liberties groups, activists, and some members of Milwaukee’s Fire and Police Commission have raised concerns about privacy and expanded surveillance. Those concerns are amplified by the department’s interest in other technologies, including facial recognition and generative artificial intelligence.

While Milwaukee police say they do not currently use generative AI in operations, and have only developed policy around it, critics worry about how these tools could eventually intersect.

Some cities like Nashville and Detroit have established civilian oversight groups focused specifically on police surveillance technology. Milwaukee does not currently have such a body, which has fueled calls for stronger transparency and accountability.

Police leadership says the responsibility is understood. The department spent about three years developing the drone unit and will now run it as a three year pilot program. Expansion will depend on funding and proven effectiveness. The current drones were purchased using asset forfeiture funds, not new taxpayer money.

The department also maintains an online dashboard where the public can explore how drones are being used, an attempt to keep operations visible rather than opaque.

DroneXL’s Take

Milwaukee’s Drone as First Responder program is not about flashy tech or futuristic policing. It is about speed, information, and reducing uncertainty before officers arrive on scene. Choosing the Skydio X10 signals a clear focus on autonomy, obstacle avoidance, and urban reliability rather than brand hype.

The drones are already proving their value in real calls, not simulations. The real test will be whether Milwaukee can balance effectiveness with restraint, and transparency with trust. If they get that part right, this program will not just fly, it will set a standard.

Photo credit: Milwaukee PD