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
At IACP 2026, Commander John Yeast explained how agencies can build drone coverage into event security plans and prepare for aircraft outside their control
After a Florida high school introduced drones designed to confront active shooters, commenters weighed the benefits of tactical intelligence against concerns about remote operators, training and student safety
Chief Giacomo Sacca’s department set the rules early, showed the technology serving residents and brought kids into the process
Miami Beach police Lt. Raymond Diaz shared lessons on staffing, civilian training, DFR, technology purchases, funding and cross-agency coordination
San Francisco police described how centralized drone pilots, mobile launches and real-time intelligence support investigations, tactical operations and emergency response
Skydio CEO Adam Bry explains how greater reliability, autonomous flight and specialized aircraft could allow agencies to expand DFR without adding one operator for every drone
