Drone as First Responder

News, deep dives, and analysis — every Drone as First Responder story, newest first.

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Sep 27

Last updated

BRINC public safety drone docking station in front of a police vehicle

Plano DFR

Plano Votes 8-0 To Buy Its Police Drones From Motorola

Plano approved $1.44 million for a Motorola-led police Drone as First Responder program that will launch with DJI aircraft before shifting to BRINC Guardian drones.

Rafael SuárezJul 31

Coffee with the Mayor and drone presentation flyer for August 1 in Santa Ana

Santa Ana DFR

Santa Ana Mayor Will Demo Police Drones Over Coffee on August 1

Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua and police will host a free public demonstration of the city's new Drone as First Responder program on August 1, with privacy and oversight questions still following its 4-3 approval.

Rafael SuárezJul 30

Detroit City Council President James Tate

Detroit DFR

Detroit Police Drone Grant Went To Washington Without City Council Approval

Detroit filed a $2.2 million DOJ grant application for a police drone as first responder program without City Council approval. Six members voted no, the city may withdraw it, and DPD still has no approved drone policy.

Haye KestelooJul 30

Skydio

Spokane's Skydio Drones Hit 400 Flights In Three Weeks

Spokane police say four Skydio X10 drones flew about 400 missions in three weeks, including a pursuit where the aircraft tracked suspects overhead after patrol cars backed off.

Rafael SuárezJul 25

A DJI Matrice-series drone flies during the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office drone demonstration in Troy, New York

Funding

New York Puts $75 Million Behind Police Drones, And Rensselaer County Can't Touch A Dollar Of It

New York's $75 million LETECH program funds police drones and counter-drone gear, but an ICE clause locks out Rensselaer County, whose photographed fleet of DJI and Autel aircraft faces a federal squeeze of its own.

Haye KestelooJul 24

Three Skydio Dock for X10 stations on a rooftop with the Tampa skyline behind them

Blue UAS

Skydio Lands Entire Drone Lineup on Blue UAS Cleared List, and the Grant Money Follows

Skydio's X10, Dock for X10, and R10 join the X10D on the Blue UAS Cleared List, unlocking federal grant eligibility and cementing its DFR lead while rivals stay locked out.

Haye KestelooJul 23

BRINC Responder drone lifting off from a docking station

DFR

League City Police To Fly BRINC 911 Drones By December

League City Police Department plans to launch a Drone as First Responder program by December after city council approved a Motorola Solutions pilot agreement built around BRINC aircraft, with the first year free and a six-year contract value of up to $1,759,980 if the city keeps the program.

Rafael SuárezJul 21

James City County AED delivery drone used in the Virginia pilot

Drone as First Responder

James City County Flies Virginia's First AED Drone Trial

James City County, Virginia will begin dispatching AED-carrying drones to suspected cardiac arrest calls on August 1, starting a five-mile pilot around Fire Station 1 in Toano. The Duke- and VCU-led RESTORe-CARE study is expanding from North Carolina into a second live U.S. county program.

Rafael SuárezJul 20

Drone as First Responder

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