OAK BROOK, Ill. – Police in the Chicago suburb of Oak Brook will soon begin using drones as first responders to 911 calls, marking one of the first programs of its kind in Illinois, CBS News Chicago reported.
The initiative is set to launch at the end of April and aims to improve response times, officer safety and the ability to gather evidence during emergencies, according to the report.
The drones, deployed from the police station roof, can travel up to 50 mph at 400 feet in elevation. Operated remotely from command centers, they will respond to incidents such as burglaries, retail thefts and other in-progress crimes, arriving before officers to provide live video feeds of scenes, according to the report.
Oak Brook Police Chief Brian Strockis called the technology a “game changer,” noting it will not replace officers, but enhance their capabilities.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin said the real-time video evidence gathered by drones will significantly strengthen prosecutions. The drones are being supplied through a three-year contract with Flock Safety, a company already providing similar services in states like California, Arizona and Georgia, according to the report.
Flock Safety and Oak Brook officials emphasized safeguards built into the program. Drone cameras face forward during flight and activate recording only upon arrival. Each flight is logged, with reports made available to the public online, according to the report. Chief Strockis stressed the drones are not for surveillance and are intended to support both community and officer safety.
