The Orange County Sheriff’s Office – Orlando (OCSO) has officially introduced Knightro, its new Skydio X10 drone, named after the University of Central Florida’s iconic mascot of the UCF Knights!
“These shots capture Knightro in action as we research Drones as First Responders (DFR) — a game-changing technology enhancing public safety. From catching bad guys to providing real-time situational awareness, drones are making a real impact in Central Florida,” said Deputy First Class Michael Kleinfelt, UAS Coordinator for OCSO.
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PUBLIC SAFETY DRONES AND DFR PROGRAMS
After years of red tape, DFR is now scaling fast — changing how agencies respond, assess and act
The Operation Spiderweb drone strike by Ukraine on Russian airbases highlights the growing threat drones pose — particularly to soft targets guarded by local law enforcement
Scottsdale Police didn’t follow a template; it built a Drone as First Responder program designed around its terrain, staffing and commitment to transparency
Drones are launched when pilots monitoring Live911 detect 911 calls that may benefit from aerial overwatch
An evolving threat, outdated federal restrictions and foreign-made platforms have created a dangerous blind spot — and police are stuck on the sidelines
The goal was to assess various capabilities in different geographic settings and terrain
