Drone as First Responder
NYPD Drone Flights Surge 3,200% as Watchdog Warns of Unchecked Surveillance
The New York Police Department conducted 6,546 drone flights in the first six months of 2025, representing a 3,200% increase since 2022, according to a new report by civil rights watchdog Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.). The explosive growth raises…
Asheville Police Drone Flies 20×30-Foot American Flag At NFL Stadium, Claims League Record
The Asheville Police Department’s drone unit flew what they claim is the largest American flag ever carried by a drone at an NFL stadium during the Carolina Panthers’ first responders’ day on November 9, 2025, according to local reports. The…
Portland, Maine City Council Rejects Police Drone Program Despite Search-And-Rescue Benefits
Portland, Maine’s City Council voted 4-3 Monday night to reject the police department’s proposal to purchase a $45,000 drone for search-and-rescue operations and accident reconstruction, marking another rare example of sustained citizen resistance to police drone adoption as most U.S.…
Stamford Drones Beat Fire Trucks to Scene in New “Game Changer” 911 Program
DFR Revolution: Stamford’s new automated Paladin DJI M30 drones are launching from rooftops to beat fire trucks to the scene, giving commanders eyes on high-rise fires before crews even leave the garage. In a dramatic validation of drone technology, a…
Skydio Paraverse Lets Pilots Train On Virtual Drones Before Touching Real Hardware
Skydio has launched Paraverse, a free browser-based simulation platform that replicates the company’s entire drone operations ecosystem, allowing pilots and program managers to train, test integrations, and build missions in a virtual environment before deploying actual hardware. The platform represents…
Brooklyn Park Approves $4.6M Drone First Responder Program With Skydio After Legislator Killing
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota’s City Council unanimously approved a $4.6 million expansion of its police technology contract to implement a Drone as First Responder program, bringing the department’s total 10-year agreement with Axon Enterprise to $12.4 million. The November 10 vote…
Drone News: DJI Neo 2 Release and Avata 360 Leak, Syracuse Police Drone Program Grounded, & New U.S. Spray Drone
Welcome to your weekly UAS news update. We have three stories for you this week. DJI has a bunch of releases and rumors. We have the Syracuse Police Department program that’s having a bunch of issues. And then a new…
From DJI to Skydio: Sedgwick County PD Upgrade Their Drone Fleet
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office just made a big move, as KWCH reports. They’ve replaced their longtime DJI drones with the new Skydio X10s, marking a major shift in how U.S. law enforcement is using drones. This isn’t just a…
Concord PD Expands Drone-as-First-Responder Program with Skydio X10
The Concord Police Department in California is taking a major step toward the future of public safety and Kron4 News investigate about it. Officials have announced an expansion of their Drone as First Responder (DFR) program, which will use advanced…
Victorville Becomes First Contract City To Launch BRINC Drone First Responder Program With $832K State-Funded Deal
The City of Victorville is set to become the first contract city with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to implement a Drone as First Responder (DFR) program, following a unanimous City Council vote earlier this month that approved an…
FDNY Drone Saves Life In East River Rescue, Dropping Buoys To Mark Drowning Victim
An FDNY drone successfully rescued a person from the East River on Saturday, using cutting-edge technology to drop flotation markers that guided emergency crews to a drowning victim near the Queensboro Bridge. The life-saving operation demonstrates the tangible value of…
Rochester Police Gets $8M For Surveillance Drones And Cameras To Monitor Protests—Part Of Hochul’s $127M Statewide Push
New York Governor Kathy Hochul is investing $127 million in law enforcement surveillance technology across the state, with Monroe County receiving $24 million—the largest share of any county. Rochester Police Department plans to use $8 million of its allocation to…