Police
Police Drone Use: Explore the impact of drones in law enforcement. Stay informed on the latest news, trends, and regulations surrounding police drone use.
Omaha PD Launch Nebraska’s First DFR Drone Program
As First Alert 6 reports, the Omaha Police Department is taking a big step forward today with the official launch of Nebraska’s first Drones as First Responders program and city leaders are ready to show how drones will help officers…
Why the “Pain” of a DJI Drone Ban Means Lives Lost, Not Just Lost Profits
In a recent Bloomberg Opinion piece, columnist Thomas Black argues that the forced transition from Chinese-made drones to American alternatives is a “necessary pain” required to secure our national supply chain. He frames this transition as a messy spreadsheet calculation,…
Florida’s DJI Drone Ban: A $200 Million Disaster With No Evidence
Florida destroyed $200 million in functional public safety drones citing Chinese espionage threats, provided only $25 million for inferior replacements that catch fire and fall from the sky, and never published the security analysis that was supposed to justify it…
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…
Police Drone Injures Child in Kent Crash, Wisconsin Deputies Save Missing Man with Thermal Drone
Welcome to your weekly US news update from Pilot Institute. We have three important stories this week that show both the risks and benefits of drone operations. A police drone crashed and injured a child. A thermal drone helped rescue…
Police Drone Spots Manatees and Dolphin in Florida River
A Bradenton Police Department drone pilot recently captured a rare and heartwarming scene along the Manatee River near Bradenton Riverwalk, as My Sun Coast reported. Not one, but two manatees drifted through the calm water. A playful dolphin even joined…
French Startup Rift Raises €4.6M For ‘Surveillance-as-a-Service’ Drones That Cost 10x Less Than Helicopters
French deep-tech startup Rift has secured €4.6 million ($4.9 million USD) to build Europe’s first fully autonomous aerial surveillance network, promising 24/7 border monitoring and critical infrastructure protection at a fraction of traditional helicopter costs. The funding round includes €3…
UK’s Chinese EV Ban Mirrors America’s DJI Drone Crackdown. Western Security Theater Goes Global
The playbook American lawmakers perfected against DJI drones is crossing the Atlantic. The UK Ministry of Defence is considering a blanket ban on Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles for military personnel, citing surveillance concerns over built-in cameras and microphones—the exact same argument…
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.…
Florida Schools to Deploy Drones That Can Stop Active Shooters
A New Kind of School Security Three Florida school districts are about to test something that sounds like a sci-fi movie but is very real. According to The Daytona Beach News Journal, Volusia, Leon, and Broward schools were picked for…
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…