First Responders

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

1,531

Articles

112

Beats covered

Reporters on beat

Sep 14

Last updated

Beyond Obstacle Avoidance: What First Responders Must Know About Drone Operations Over Crowds

DJI

Beyond Obstacle Avoidance: What First Responders Must Know About Drone Operations Over People

Public safety agencies nationwide are rapidly adopting drones for crowd monitoring, emergency response, and situational awareness. These platforms provide valuable real-time intelligence that can improve officer safety and operational effectiveness. However, as drone operations over people become routine, agencies must carefully balance operational capabilities against physical risks, including im

Haye KestelooOct 20

Dji Mini 3 pro - DJI Tightens Drone Rebinding Rules Starting June 19, 2025: What Pilots Need to Know

Police

Toronto Police Charge Seven Drone Pilots During Blue Jays Playoffs, Including Micro-Drone Operators

Toronto police charged seven people for illegally flying drones over Rogers Centre during American League Championship Series games on October 12-13, using specialized detection technology to intercept the unauthorized flights. The Toronto Police Emergency Management and Public Order Unit laid eight charges against the operators for violating Canadian Aviation Regulations and breaching a federally

Haye KestelooOct 19

Skydio

No Kings, No Parachutes, No Problem?! NYPD Flies Skydio Drones Directly Over NYC Protest Crowds

The NYPD deployed at least six or seven Skydio X10 drones over Saturday’s ‘No Kings’ protest march in Manhattan—or maybe it was eight or nine, officers weren’t entirely sure—but they were crystal clear about one thing: not a single one of these Skydio drones had parachutes. And when you’re flying 4.65-pound (2.11 kg) unmanned aircraft…

Haye KestelooOct 18

Video

YouTuber Builds $120 Military-Grade Recon Drone That Streams to Tactical Software Used by U.S. Forces

A popular tech YouTuber has reverse-engineered a $40,000 military-grade reconnaissance drone for just $120.07 using open-source hardware and off-the-shelf components. The DIY system successfully streams live FPV video directly into ATAK—the same tactical mapping software used by the U.S. military—proving that cutting-edge surveillance capabilities don’t require defense contractor budgets. Data Sla

Haye KestelooOct 17

Police

FCC To Vote on New Rules, DJI Appeals Court Ruling, OPD Rescues Kayakers with Drone

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, and we have three stories for you this week. The FCC is set to vote on new rules that could impact covered list entities. DJI is appealing a Chinese military company court ruling. And finally, we have a drones for good story in New York State. So, let’s…

Greg ReverdiauOct 17

DJI

Westwood Police Thermal Drone Locates Missing Person in Wooded Search and Rescue

A DJI Matrice 4T thermal drone helped the Westwood Police Dept. quickly locate a missing and endangered person in a densely wooded area

Haye KestelooOct 16

FAA

News Organizations Challenge FAA Drone Rules That Would End Urban Journalism

News organizations have formally challenged the FAA’s proposed drone regulations before the October 6 comment deadline, warning that the rules would effectively ban aerial journalism in America’s cities and raise serious First Amendment concerns about government restrictions on newsgathering. The News Media Coalition’s challenge comes as press freedom advocates fight on multiple fronts against dro

Haye KestelooOct 13

DJI

Olean Police Deploy Drone to Rescue Three Kayakers from Allegheny River

A thermal-equipped drone helped the Olean Police Department swiftly locate and rescue three kayakers in distress on the Allegheny River in upstate New York. The October 4, 2024 rescue highlights how drone technology is becoming an essential life-saving tool for police and fire departments across the country. The Olean Police Department received a distress call…

Haye KestelooOct 13

First Responders

The drone industry moves fast. Stay ahead of it.