Knoxville Weighs Drones for 911 Response

Knoxville City Council is set to vote Tuesday on a major expansion of drone operations for public safety, one that would allow drones to respond directly to 911 calls before police officers arrive on scene, as WATE reports.

The proposal would add a Drones as First Responders program to the Knoxville Police Department’s existing Axon contract. If approved, the city would deploy twelve drone docks equipped with Skydio X10 aircraft, with total costs capped at $9.4 million.

The system would operate from KPD’s Real Time Information Center, which is expected to become fully operational in the first half of 2026. From there, trained pilots would launch drones immediately after certain emergency calls are received, streaming live video back to dispatchers and officers in the field.

How Drones Change Police Response

Skydio’s public safety team says the primary goal of the program is speed combined with better decision making. Drones can often reach a scene in minutes, sometimes well before patrol cars, giving officers real time visibility into what is actually happening.

According to Skydio’s public safety strategy lead Noreen Charlton, this advance awareness can help officers arrive better prepared and in safer positions, especially during volatile incidents such as domestic disputes. These calls are among the most dangerous for officers, often involving incomplete or inaccurate information.

Charlton emphasized that drones allow police to create distance between officers and potential threats, buying time and reducing the likelihood of rushed decisions. In some cities, agencies report that drones alone are able to resolve roughly a quarter of calls, freeing officers to focus on higher priority incidents.

Knoxville’s Drone Experience So Far

Knoxville Police Department is not new to drone operations. The department has used drones for years during large events, missing person searches, major crime scene documentation, and critical incident response.

In September 2025, KPD conducted a multi day DFR demonstration, deploying drones to live calls and feeding real time information to officers en route. The technology was also tested during the UT versus Georgia football game, where situational awareness and crowd monitoring were key priorities.

Supporters of the program say DFR could also help address ongoing staffing shortages by reducing unnecessary officer dispatches, while critics are expected to raise concerns around cost, privacy, and oversight.

DroneXL’s Take

Knoxville’s proposal shows how fast Drones as First Responders is moving from pilot programs to permanent infrastructure. A $9.4 million investment signals confidence not just in drone hardware, but in integrated command centers, trained pilots, and data driven policing.

If approved, Knoxville would join a growing list of U.S. cities betting that eyes in the sky can improve safety on the ground, while also reshaping how emergency response works in the next decade.

Photo credit: Skydio, KPD.

Last update on 2026-01-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API