News, deep dives, and analysis — every Drone as First Responder story, newest first.
Cal Fire’s San Benito Monterey Unit did not plan to become a state leader in drone operations, but a simple act of generosity changed everything, as a local photographer donated two drones back in 2021, and those small aircraft pushed the agency toward a future no one expected. Battalion Chief Josh Silveira still laughs about…
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 serious questions about privacy, safety, and transparency as the NYPD deploys 4.7-pound Skydio drones over…
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 911-dispatched drone recently beat fire crews to a high-rise blaze in Stamford, CT, confirming a…
A quiet afternoon in Ottawa County turned into a chaotic search after a violent home invasion left a dog dead and a homeowner injured. The suspect, a 23 year old man, tried to flee into the nearby woods. He did not get far. According to MLIVE, a sheriff’s drone and a K-9 team tracked him…
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 positions the Minneapolis suburb as the latest American city replacing Chinese-made drones with U.S. alternatives…
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 drones to reach emergency scenes faster and provide real-time aerial support to officers on the…
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 upgrade a 20-year-old blue light camera system and purchase additional drones specifically for crowd control…
London’s Metropolitan Police have begun deploying remotely-operated drones to emergency calls, with the unmanned aircraft reaching crime scenes within two minutes to stream live footage to responding officers. The trial program, known as “Drone as First Responder,” launched in the north London neighborhood of Islington and aims to expand to two additional sites covering the…
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