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The Daytona Beach Police Department (DBPD) employs drones for traffic accident reconstruction and investigation, among other use cases.

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A Drone as First Responder (DFR) program refers to the automatic deployment of drones to the scene of an incident immediately upon receiving a 911 call, providing real-time situational awareness to first responders as they travel to the scene.

Equipped with thermal imaging and high-resolution cameras, drones help locate missing persons, including children and vulnerable adults, in challenging terrains and adverse weather conditions.

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Drones provide real-time aerial views of large areas, helping officers monitor public events, track suspects, and gather intelligence without being detected.

Drones help detect and monitor illegal activities such as poaching, illegal logging, and unauthorized land use, providing valuable evidence for prosecutions.

The approval to operate BVLOS was a game-changer, allowing CVPD to deploy drones over a wider area without requiring a visual observer to maintain line of sight with the drone. This capability significantly expanded the operational range of its drones, enhancing their effectiveness in responding to emergencies and providing situational awareness.

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After natural disasters, drones assess damage, identify hazards, and help coordinate response efforts, ensuring efficient use of resources and faster recovery.

Tyler Technologies' public safety team spent some time talking with Patrick Bugg and Kim Clark of the Paducah, Kentucky, police department about what it takes to make a strong CAD solution and why it makes a difference in their agency and communities. Read the Q&A below.

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The NYPD’s drones provide a live feed to command centers, helping officers monitor crowd movements, identify potential hazards, and respond quickly to incidents. In 2024, the NYPD launched its own DFR program, which deploys drones to the scene of gunshots as soon as they’re detected by a system called ShotSpotter.

In SWAT operations or hostage situations, SWAT drones—another term for a police drone—provide crucial intelligence on suspect locations and movements, enabling safer and more strategic decision-making.

BUGG: Enterprise CAD is very customizable. I already mentioned the custom call types and common name addresses for the LPRs — that’s been very helpful. I also like the ability to create custom templates. Depending on what I'm doing that day, it may benefit me to have different parts of the CAD system on different parts of my screen, like cleared call search or global subject search, and I'm able to totally customize that. I have a custom template for law, fire, and call-taking depending on what I'm working that day. The setup that I like might be completely different from the person sitting next to me, but it's customizable for each user.

BUGG: For me, a couple of recent examples come to mind that highlight the day-to-day impact of what it means to have a CAD system work the way dispatchers want it to work.

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As part of the IPP, CVPD received special FAA approval to fly drones BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight), which is otherwise prohibited under the Part 107 rules.

Real-time video transmission provides instant situational awareness to officers on the ground. Drones equipped with this capability, such as the BRINC LEMUR 2, can stream live footage to command centers, enabling real-time decision-making and coordination during emergencies and tactical operations.

In this article we’ll take a deep dive into law enforcement drones, covering what a police drone is, the history of drones in law enforcement, the top police drones on the market, the different ways police use drones, and more.

Drones assist in tracking and apprehending fugitives by providing aerial views of search areas, reducing the risk to officers and increasing the chances of a successful capture.

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Despite regulatory hurdles making them hard to launch, DFR programs have been slowly growing throughout police departments in the U.S.

A few years back, officers used drones after a major traffic collision to capture detailed aerial imagery of the scene, which was then used to create accurate 3D models to investigate the cause of the crash. This process significantly reduced the time required for on-site investigation, minimizing traffic disruptions and allowing the road to reopen more quickly.

But as an overview, drones provide law enforcement with a bird’s-eye view of unfolding situations in real time, allowing officers to gather critical information without putting themselves in harm’s way.

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Police drones are designed to withstand harsh environments and adverse weather conditions. Models like the DJI Matrice 350 RTK and Parrot ANAFI USA feature rugged, weather-resistant designs with high IP ratings, ensuring reliable performance in rain, wind, and extreme temperatures.

Want to learn more about how public safety agencies are using drones? Check out our in-depth guide, What Is a Public Safety Drone?

BUGG: I'm a telecommunicator and night shift supervisor with the Paducah Police Department, Communications Services Division. I've been with Paducah PD since 2020, but I've been dispatching since 2016. I also have experience as an EMT.

GIS is a technology that is used to create, manage, analyze, and map all types of data. GIS connects data to a map, integrating location data.

High-resolution cameras are a standard feature on most police drones, providing detailed imagery for surveillance, crime scene documentation, and search and rescue operations. Cameras on drones like the DJI Matrice 350 RTK and Parrot ANAFI USA offer resolutions up to 48 MP, enabling officers to capture clear and precise images from the air.

But it wasn’t until the mid-2010s that drone technology became widely accessible and affordable for police departments. Initially, military-grade drones were the primary models available, but advancements in commercial drone technology have since led to a broader range of options for public safety agencies (PSAs).

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As drone technology has become more prevalent, it’s also become more specialized. And with that specialization we’ve seen drones and supporting software developed specifically for the needs of several types of jobs, including law enforcement.

CLARK: I've been a public safety professional for more than 30 years, mostly on the dispatch side. I even started a 911 center from scratch in a small town of about 40,000 people. Up until recently, I was the Emergency Communications Manager with the Paducah Police Department.

Extended flight times and transmission ranges are critical for covering large areas and prolonged operations. Drones like the DJI Matrice 350 RTK offer flight times up to 55 minutes and transmission ranges up to 9.3 miles, allowing for extensive surveillance, suspect pursuit, and monitoring without frequent battery changes​.

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Aerial imagery from drones helps document crime scenes comprehensively, preserving evidence and providing detailed perspectives that ground-based photos might miss.

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Because CAD allows us to create custom call types and custom addresses, we quickly identified which camera the wanted vehicle passed underneath, entered “LPR1” as the address, selected “LPR” as the call type, and started documenting. Then, we're able to use Enterprise Fire Field Mobile and the automatic vehicle location (AVL) on the officer's vehicles, check our real-time map in CAD, and see who’s in the area to dispatch. Like Kim said, it’s possible because all of the integrations and modules work together seamlessly. In this case, we really needed every piece here to work together inside CAD — the NCIC integration, LPRs, mobile applications, and AVL.

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By deploying drones to incident scenes, police departments can reduce the need for multiple ground units and allocate resources more strategically. Additionally, the ability to capture aerial imagery and live video feeds helps departments improve the overall quality of incident documentation and evidence collection.

In one notable case, a drone equipped with thermal imaging was used to locate a suspect hiding in a dark, enclosed area. The drone’s live feed allows officers to approach and apprehend the suspect without putting themselves at unnecessary risk.

In hazardous environments like chemical spills or collapsed buildings, drones gather critical information without putting officers at risk, ensuring their safety while obtaining necessary data.

Drones like the Parrot ANAFI USA and BRINC LEMUR 2 come with loudspeakers and two-way communication systems, allowing police officers to broadcast messages or communicate directly with individuals on the ground. This feature is particularly useful for crowd control, hostage negotiations, and disaster response​.

After Hurricane Harvey, drones were deployed to assess damage, locate stranded individuals, and survey flood-affected areas. The aerial imagery provided by drones helped in coordinating rescue operations and allocating resources effectively, contributing to a more efficient response effort​.

Police drones often carry multiple sensors to enhance their versatility. For example, the DJI Matrice 350 RTK can be equipped with various payloads, including high-resolution cameras, thermal sensors, and night vision cameras. This multi-sensor capability allows a single drone to perform multiple functions, from surveillance to thermal imaging, in a single flight​.

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High-resolution cameras on drones capture detailed evidence in various investigations, including illegal dumping, wildlife crimes, and property damage.

CLARK: A good CAD system is a gap-filler — it helps connect the dots between the different pieces of an effective emergency response.

It’s worth noting that, among all the types of public safety agencies, police are the ones using drones the most, with fire departments a distant second.

The Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD) has been at the forefront of integrating drones into law enforcement work for years.

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Drones enhance perimeter security around critical infrastructure, prisons, and other high-security areas by providing continuous aerial surveillance and detecting intrusions.

For example, when the fire pre-plan information can be accessed directly from within CAD, that’s connecting the dots for us. We had a tornado hit in Paducah in March, and immediately following that, one of the fire chiefs reached out and said, 'Hey, can we start collecting tornado shelter information in CAD?' That way, if we're clearing an area where a tornado has hit, we'll know there's a shelter in the basement of a home and we'll know where to look for survivors.

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Our CAD solution confirms addressees instantly because it verifies based on GIS data. It allows us to dispatch quickly because we can use unit recommendations to determine the closest unit. It gives us visibility by showing us the responding units in real time. It allows us to comfort the caller and say with certainty that we do have units on the way and they'll be there shortly. Then, we can see when the unit has arrived on scene and switch gears. It allows us to do a lot in a very short period of time because of how seamlessly you can move about in the different elements of CAD.

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When we're responding to an emergency, time is of the essence. I don't have time to think about how to enter a call for service. I don't have time to switch between programs and screens. And that's one of the things I love about our CAD system. It's user-friendly, it's easy to learn, and it's consistent across the different modules. I can focus on collecting information, asking questions, and getting first responders where they need to be.

Thermal imaging is crucial for operations in low-visibility conditions, such as nighttime or in smoke and fog. Drones like the DJI Mavic 3 Thermal and Skydio X2 are equipped with thermal sensors that detect heat signatures, allowing officers to locate suspects, missing persons, or hazardous materials that aren’t visible to the naked eye.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has integrated drones into its operations for tactical missions, including SWAT operations and hostage situations.

Equipped with loudspeakers, drones disseminate important information to the public during emergencies, evacuations, or large gatherings, enhancing communication and public safety.

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Since launching the first Drone as First Responder (DFR) program in 2018, CVPD has seen significant improvements in response times and situational awareness. CVPD deploys drones to the scene of an incident immediately after a 911 call, providing real-time video feed to officers en route. This capability has helped in various scenarios, including locating suspects, monitoring large events, assessing crime scenes, and significantly reducing the number of calls officers respond to.

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But a drone doesn’t have to be made just for law enforcement to qualify as a police drone. Many high-quality commercial drones can be used effectively by trained police officers.

One of the first instances of a law enforcement agency employing drones was in 2013, when the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado began using them in search and rescue missions and crime scene investigations.

This surge in adoption was driven by the decreasing costs of drones and the increasing recognition of their utility in various operational contexts for police work.

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The Mesa Sheriff’s early adoption led the way for the use of drones by law enforcement elsewhere, showcasing the value drones could provide public safety operations by providing aerial perspectives that were otherwise difficult or even impossible to obtain.

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Computer aided dispatch (CAD) software is the starting point for every 911 call. But what sets a modern CAD system apart? How does it impact telecommunicators, CAD administrators, first responders, and the communities they serve?

This innovative program was developed as part of the FAA’s UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP), which aimed to test and evaluate the integration of drones into national airspace.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous flight capabilities are becoming increasingly common in police drones. These technologies enable drones to navigate complex environments, avoid obstacles, and conduct missions with minimal human intervention. Skydio is known for its autonomy—its Skydio X2 has advanced AI for obstacle avoidance and autonomous flight, making it ideal for dynamic and challenging scenarios​.

Responders in McCracken County, Kentucky, used NG911 technology — including a modern CAD system integrated with mobile technology — to locate and rescue a lost hunter unsure of his location. Read the blog.

Drones provide surveillance along borders, detecting illegal crossings and assisting border patrol agents in apprehending individuals attempting to enter the country unlawfully.

Drones monitor traffic flow, identify congestion points, and assist in managing traffic during peak hours or major events, improving overall traffic management.

Now that we’ve covered an array of use cases, let’s dive deeper, and look at some real-world examples of how police departments and other law enforcement agencies are actually using drones in their work.

These programs have been particularly effective in urban areas, where traffic congestion and complex environments can delay traditional response times.

National Crime Information Center (NCIC) data is integrated into CAD, so when I enter a vehicle plate or a person into the CAD, it automatically brings back that NCIC return for me. We recently acquired license plate readers (LPRs) that hang over two of our busiest intersections and scan for things like stolen vehicles and wanted persons. There was a felony theft that occurred in Missouri, and a local agency entered the vehicle information into NCIC. When that vehicle passed by one of our LPRs, we were notified immediately.

Here are the top five police drones on the market, including information on their primary use cases, price range, supply chain  details, and key features.

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The Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD) in California pioneered the first Drone as First Responder (DFR) program in the United States in 2018.

Drones patrol borders and coastal areas, identifying and tracking suspicious vessels or individuals involved in drug trafficking or smuggling activities.

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Now that we’ve gone over the top police drones on the market it’s time to get concrete, and look at specific use cases for drones in policing.

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By the end of 2016—just three years after Mesa’s foray into the use of drones for public safety work—about 350 public safety agencies had acquired drones, including 167 police departments. These early drone programs focused primarily on traffic accident reconstruction, surveillance, and monitoring large events.

CLARK: CAD is our meat and potatoes. It's how we begin and end every transaction, every day. The job of a telecommunicator or a 911 dispatcher is not an easy job to do, but having a reliable CAD system makes all the difference. It really can mean the difference between life and death for both our responders and our residents.

The integration with Next Generation 911 (NG911) technology is significant, too. Being able to pinpoint a caller’s exact location has come into play many times. The lost hunter unsure of his exact location; the man following his stolen truck on a motorcycle; the woman who called 911 and left the line open while being held against her will in a moving vehicle. We were able to get responders directly to these people because Enterprise CAD integrates with the caller location functionality.

Tyler’s public safety solutions improve situation awareness and enhance safety and productivity for public safety professionals. We’ve drawn from our extensive experience to design, develop, deliver and support integrated software solutions to meet each agency’s unique needs.

BUGG: I would say one of the key elements I look for in a solid CAD system is functionality. I've used other CAD solutions at my previous employer, as well as recently when I was filling in at a neighboring agency. I rely on some of the more advanced features for efficiency, and it was challenging to go back to a system that didn't have them.

During large public events or protests, drones monitor crowd movements, identify potential hazards, and assist in crowd control efforts, ensuring public safety.

There are several other drones out there that can be used by law enforcement—here are some common characteristics to look for when vetting a drone for police work.

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Since then, more and more police departments have started drone programs. As of 2022, over 1,000 police departments in the United States had adopted drone technology.

Drones capture detailed aerial images of accident scenes, allowing investigators to reconstruct incidents accurately and efficiently, minimizing road closures and disruptions.

The ability to assign multiple calls to one incident is also really helpful. We had an active shooter situation and received more than 20 calls in five minutes. Because we could associate all of those calls together, we were able to get a clearer picture of what was going on and the scope of the situation.

According to the FAA, the number of drones used by public safety agencies will be over 30,000 by 2025, representing a growth of 300% from the 10,000 in use by PSAs in 2020.

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I've worked in situations where the CAD crashes every other day. With Enterprise CAD, one thing we don't have to think about is how our system is going to work. We can depend on it. It's not going to crash. We're able to get responders on a scene quicker, determine what is going on quicker, and we're able to resolve the situation quicker.

CLARK: At Paducah, we dispatched for a fire agency outside of our county, which means geofencing is extremely important to us. The agency falls outside of our map, but our CAD system administrator was able to create a geofence outside of our county so we could dispatch for them effectively. We're able to see their units and see the trucks moving, which gave us unparalleled situational awareness as telecommunicators, as we had insight into what was happening in this area. We also used automatic status updates based on the geofence, so, when the truck enters the station, it puts them in quarters; when it leaves the station, it puts them out of quarters. So that's another example of advanced functionality that has been impactful.

And there are so many uses for cop drones that they can vary widely in size and capability, ranging from small quadcopters to larger, more sophisticated hexacopters with extended flight times and broader payload capacities.

These days, police drones—also known as cop drones or law enforcement drones—have become indispensable tools in modern policing.