Dallas suburb launches ‘drone as first responder’ program

The Dallas suburb of Prosper, Texas, this week launched a “drone as first responder” program, part of Flock Safety’s Aerodome system, aimed at enhancing public safety and improving emergency response times.

The initiative is supported by the state’s Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, which offers grants to local law enforcement agencies to combat motor vehicle theft, burglary from vehicles, and fraud-related motor vehicle crimes. Prosper received nearly $100,000 as part of the authority’s Auto Theft Grant program for fiscal year 2024.

According to Flock Safety’s website, its Aerodome drone system has already helped other agencies in the U.S. reduce response times by 71% and improve suspect identification rates by 89%, resolving 20% of emergency calls without dispatching patrol vehicles.

“By integrating these advanced drone programs into our operations, we are providing our officers with a powerful tool that significantly enhances safety and service for our community,” Prosper Police Chief Doug Kowalski said in a press release. “These programs offer many of the same benefits as helicopters, enabling us to respond to critical incidents with greater precision and effectiveness, ultimately transforming our approach to public safety.”

According to the announcement, the police department will log and track every drone flight, and make flight records publicly accessible on its flight dashboard.

The drone program also uses several autonomous features, including automated drone deployment, in which a drone can launch itself from a secure storage location and execute a mission without direct human intervention.

The department’s aerial fleet is also equipped with license plate readers and “detect and avoid” radar, a feature that can autonomously identify and avoid other aircrafts and objects, preventing mid-air collisions.

“I am proud to support the Prosper Police Department in launching this innovative drone program,” Prosper Mayor David Bristol said in the release. “This initiative reflects the Town Council’s unwavering commitment to investing in cutting-edge technology that not only enhances public safety but also protects our officers and ensures the well-being of our residents.”

The Federal Aviation Administration mandates that all drone operations nationwide must adhere to strict guidelines, including pilot registration, flying below 400 feet, maintaining visual line-of-sight, and avoiding restricted airspace unless authorized. In January, the FAA granted the Elk Grove, California, Police Department permission to fly drones at an altitude of 400 feet, beyond the operator’s visual line of sight.

In 2024, San Francisco Police Chief William Scott told media that drones have been “transformative” for police work, sharing that city’s drone program had led to arrests, criminal charges and decade-low levels of crime.