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Drone use is rapidly expanding in law enforcement, from tracking suspects to crime scene analysis. This new tool is reshaping many of the ways law enforcement operates, but not everyone is sold on it. From privacy concerns to increases in regulations, the challenges and skepticism need to be addressed and buy-in achieved. Join us for an in-depth webinar exploring the critical aspects of starting and implementing a drone program within law enforcement agencies. Our panel of law enforcement experts relate real-world scenarios and lessons learned from their own experiences in establishing a drone program. This webinar provides law enforcement professionals and policymakers with critical knowledge and perspectives on navigating the evolving landscape of drone use in law enforcement.
You will learn:
- How to address common concerns around transparency and privacy.
- New insight on implementing a drone program, including standardization and normalization.
- Ways to allocate budget and personnel for a drone program.
- Tips on integration with other public safety operations.
- Ideas for sustaining and expanding a drone program once it’s created.
WHAT ATTENDEES LIKED FROM THIS PRESENTATION:
“Great speakers!”
“Good information and from people in my career field.”
“I found it very beneficial to hear how other agencies have started their DFR programs because I have been very unsure on how to approach the idea with my admin.”
“Good, broad panel with a wide variety of regional areas and sizes.”
“Very informative and the speakers were very knowledgeable.”
MEET THE SPEAKERS:
MODERATOR:
Retired Chula Vista Police Captain Don Redmond has over 25 years of law enforcement experience and now works for BRINC Drones as the Vice President of Advanced Public Safety Projects. In this role, Don is focused on building future capabilities to help Public Safety save lives and effectively integrate UAS technologies into communities around the world. Don’s law enforcement career comprised of various assignments including SWAT, SWAT Team Leader, Patrol Watch Commander, Community Policing, Professional Standards, Jail Commander, Dispatch Manager, and UAS Manager. As a Police Captain, Don oversaw Support Operations consisting of the Emergency Police Communications Center, Technology, the City Jail, and UAS Operations. He managed the Chula Vista Police Department’s groundbreaking UAS program including the Drone as First Responder (DFR) and is active in the UAS community. Don holds a Master of Arts Degree in Administrative Leadership from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from San Diego State University. He is a graduate of California P.O.S.T. Command College (Class 64) and the FBI National Academy (Class 263). He is a published author in Police1 Magazine, FBINAA Magazine and was a contributing writer for the California P.O.S.T. De-Escalation Strategies and Techniques publication.
PANEL:
Lieutenant Abrem Ayana is the commander of the Brookhaven (GA) Police Department Office of Professional Standards and Special Projects. In this role, he manages the department’s Internal Affairs, Backgrounds & Hiring, Community Engagement, and technology initiatives. In October 2020, Brookhaven Police gained council approval to implement a Drone First Responder (DFR) Program. Launched in April 2021, this program dispatches drones to calls for service often arriving before responding ground units. The Brookhaven Police Drone as First Responder (DFR) was modeled after the successful Chula Vista Police DFR and has been featured in numerous media outlet’s to include CBS Mornings and Police Magazine. For the past several years Abrem has been speaking to state, national and international audiences on the Integration of Drones in Public Safety. Under Abrem’s leadership in October 2022, BPD implemented Live911, a new innovative technology that live-streams 911 calls directly to officers in the field. This technology gives responding officers vital information, such as caller location and tracking, when responding to calls for service. Abrem continues to focus his efforts on incorporating new technologies that enhance safety and enhance services.
Eric Lane is a Police Captain with a 23-year tenure at the Hawthorne Police Department in California. Eric has managed responsibilities across patrol, investigations, traffic enforcement, SWAT, Community Affairs and narcotics divisions. In his current leadership role in the Police Administrative Division, Eric is the driving force behind the Department’s Real Time Crime Center and Drone First Responder Program, where he orchestrates advanced strategies for law enforcement and community protection. Eric holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Post Graduate Degree in Public Administration, providing him with a solid foundation for his career in law enforcement. His pursuit of excellence in leadership is further evidenced by his completion of prestigious programs such as the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Point Leadership Program, the California POST Command College, and the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute. These programs have endowed him with advanced leadership skills and a nuanced understanding of the challenges in contemporary policing. Throughout his career, Eric Lane has consistently displayed extraordinary leadership, strategic insight, and a profound commitment to justice and community service. His significant contributions to the Hawthorne Police Department and the broader law enforcement community stand as a testament to his dedication, expertise, and enduring impact in the field of law enforcement.
Sergeant Brian Mullins began his law enforcement career in 2012. Over the last twelve years, Sergeant Mullins has worked with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. During his time with the agency he has worked in various divisions including Patrol, Civil, Sex Offender Registry and is currently the Drone Team Commander. Sergeant Mullins is a North Carolina Certified General Instructor, Specialized Law Enforcement Driving Instructor, Simulations and Force on Force Instructor and a Rapid Deployment (Active Shooter) Instructor. Sergeant Mullins is a licensed Private Pilot with an Instrument Rating, as well as a licensed Drone Pilot. In May 2022, Sergeant Mullins and Forsyth County Sheriff, Bobby Kimbrough traveled to Chula Vista, California to learn more about the Chula Vista Police Department’s Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program. Sheriff Kimbrough is a true visionary. He believes in utilizing technology to better serve the citizens, as well as helping to better protect our deputies. After getting a first-hand look at the Chula Vista DFR program, he tasked Sergeant Mullins with replicating that model in Forsyth County. In October 2022, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office launched their DFR program out of Clemmons, NC; one of the townships under the jurisdiction of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. Since launching, more than a year ago, the Forsyth County DFR program has gained national and international attention. In late 2023, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Duke University Hospital Research Cardiologist, Dr. Monique Starks. Dr. Starks was looking to form a partnership that would deliver AEDs to cardiac patients, via drone. A grant was later awarded to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, from the American Heart Association, which will fund a study that could lead to Drone AED Delivery. This is the first study of its kind in the United States.