DEALS

First Responders

Police, fire, and search-and-rescue teams putting drones to work when minutes matter.

1,521
Articles
112
Beats covered
10
Reporters on beat
Aug 18
Last updated
Asheville Police Drone Flies 20x30-Foot American Flag At NFL Stadium, Claims League Record
DJI

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 heavy-lift drone carried a massive 20-by-30-foot American flag over Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte…

Concord Police Expands Drone-as-First-Responder Program with Skydio X10 Fleet
Skydio

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. cities rapidly deploy aerial surveillance with minimal public debate. The Portland Police Department sought to…

Stamford Drones Beat Fire Trucks to Scene in New "Game Changer" 911 Program
Skydio

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 911-dispatched drone recently beat fire crews to a high-rise blaze in Stamford, CT, confirming a…

Germany Authorizes Military to Shoot Down Drones as Sabotage Fears Mount
Police

Germany Authorizes Military to Shoot Down Drones as Sabotage Fears Mount

Germany is breaking a decades-long taboo by empowering its military to shoot down unidentified drones over domestic soil. Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s cabinet approved the landmark legislation Wednesday, authorizing the Bundeswehr to deploy weapons and advanced jammers inside Germany’s borders to protect critical infrastructure. The move was reported by Bloomberg, citing the need to counter a…

Drone Tracks Suspect After Deadly Dog Stabbing in Ottawa County
Drone as First Responder

Drone Tracks Suspect After Deadly Dog Stabbing in Ottawa County

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…

Drone Helps Wisconsin Deputies Find Missing 85-Year-Old Man
Police

Drone Helps Wisconsin Deputies Find Missing 85-Year-Old Man

An 85-year-old man who wandered into the woods near Meredith Road and State Highway 58 in Juneau County was safely found Monday night thanks to a fast drone search. The Juneau County Sheriff’s Office said the call came in shortly after 5 p.m., when a concerned caller believed the man was lost and possibly injured…

Danish Researchers Prove Arctic Drones Can Transform Search and Rescue in Greenland's Extreme Conditions
DJI

Danish Researchers Prove Arctic Drones Can Transform Search and Rescue in Greenland’s Extreme Conditions

Danish and Greenlandic researchers have successfully demonstrated how off-the-shelf drones can revolutionize search and rescue operations in the Arctic’s harshest conditions, completing 32 test flights in Greenland that generated critical data for developing next-generation helicopter-integrated rescue systems. Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark and the Alexandra Institute, workin

— The DroneXL Briefing · Free

The drone industry moves fast. Stay ahead of it.

One email with the drone news that matters — DJI, FAA, public safety, and everything in between, straight from the newsroom. No spam, no fluff.

8,400+
Articles published
340+
Beats & desks
2020
Covering drones since
100%
Independent