Police

Drone-as-first-responder programs, pursuit footage, evidence policy, and the departments putting UAS on patrol.

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Oct 6

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DJI Responds to Court Ruling, Denies Military Ties Despite Pentagon Designation - Trump Administration Targets Chinese Drone Imports in September Crackdown

Department of Homeland Security

House Homeland Security Chair Calls Drones a “New, Growing Frontier” of Threats to U.S. Critical Infrastructure

The same week DHS announced its permanent counter-drone office and FEMA began distributing $500 million in C-UAS grants, the House Homeland Security Committee held an oversight hearing that spelled out exactly why the federal government is treating drones as a top-tier threat. Chairman Andrew R. Garbarino’s opening statement placed drones alongside cyberattacks and AI-enabled operations…

Haye KestelooJan 23

Police

Arlington Police Expand Drone First Response Program

The Arlington Police Department is increasingly relying on drones as part of its frontline response strategy, sending quadcopters to incidents before officers arrive on scene. These aircraft launch either from patrol controlled deployments or from automated rooftop stations installed at police facilities across the city, as The Short Horn reports. Arlington’s program reflects a broader…

Rafael SuárezJan 22

Skydio

Sterling Heights Brings Axon-Skydio DFR Program to Detroit Metro, Funded Entirely by Federal Forfeiture

The photo shows a Skydio drone hovering over a dock outside the Sterling Heights Police Department. It’s a familiar sight in 2026, but not in Michigan, where automated drone response has been slow to take hold despite the state’s heavy investment in drone infrastructure. That changes this spring when Sterling Heights becomes one of the…

Haye KestelooJan 21

Police

Yosemite Visitors Fly Drones Freely as Ranger Shortage Guts NPS Enforcement

The NYTimes confirms what we reported in 2025: Yosemite's 25% ranger staffing cuts have created an enforcement vacuum for illegal drones

Haye KestelooJan 21

Overhead black-and-white view of a DJI Phantom quadcopter surrounded by folding DJI Mavic drones and other multirotors arranged on a white surface

Police

Colombia launches $1.6B national anti drone shield

Colombia just made one of the biggest counter drone moves in the Western Hemisphere, and it did so with a clear message in mind. Airspace is no longer a background concern. It is now a frontline, as reported by Defence Blog. On January 10, the Colombian government announced a COP 6.2 trillion investment, roughly $1.6…

Rafael SuárezJan 19

Police

Suspected Drone Disrupts Flights at Heathrow Airport

Flights at London Heathrow Airport were briefly disrupted after a suspected drone sighting, once again highlighting how even a single unmanned aircraft can ripple through one of the busiest aviation hubs on the planet, as Independent reports. Heathrow is Europe’s busiest airport, handling roughly 70 arrivals and departures every hour, so even short pauses can…

Rafael SuárezJan 18

DJI Zenmuse L2 lidar sensor mounted on a DJI Matrice 350 RTK drone.

DJI

Drone Rescues Missing Kirkland Woman After Two Days

Deputies responded, and one King County Sheriff’s deputy quickly launched a drone to scan the area from above, relying on thermal imaging to cut

Rafael SuárezJan 18

Skydio

Caldwell Police Launch Idaho’s First DFR Program

The Caldwell Police Department has become the first law enforcement agency in Idaho to launch a Drone as First Responder program, marking a major shift in how emergency calls are handled across the city, as KTVB reports. Designed to cut response times and give officers immediate aerial awareness, the program allows drones to be dispatched…

Rafael SuárezJan 17

Police

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