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On-demand webinar: Patrol-led drone as first responder (DFR) with Flagler County Sheriff’s Office

The future of drone programs in law enforcement

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Access this on-demand webinar by completing the “Watch this Police1 on-demand webinar” box on this page!

Join Flagler County Sheriff’s Office for a discussion about deploying and leveraging a patrol-led drone as first responder (DFR) program for policing operations. With drone technology, agencies such as Flagler County are implementing innovative policing tactics to keep their officers and communities safe and improve efficiency of call response.

In this webinar, Commander Jonathan Dopp and Segreant Jorge Fuentes detail why Flagler County Sheriff’s Office kickstarted their drone program, the benefits of the program thus far, and their vision for the future of their program. Hear how Commander Dopp overcame the challenges of developing an UAS program training protocol with limited budgets and resources and grew the program to over a dozen pilots in only a few months, implementing drones into everyday patrol operations.

View this webinar now to learn:

  • How drones are used in patrol-led deployments with a DFR mindset.
  • Real-life examples of incidents where drones played a vital role in mission success and outcomes for Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
  • Tips for developing training protocols for any agency interested in incorporating drones into their operations.
  • The impact drones have on Flagler County Sheriff’s Office’s operations.

WHAT ATTENDEES LIKED FROM THIS PRESENTATION:

“I loved the videos that displayed the capabilities of the drone!”

“Lots of new information learned about NIST training to add to my own program.”

“The videos and briefs on how the drones were actually used during deployments were great.”

“Very informative.”

MEET THE SPEAKERS:

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L - R: Jonathan Dopp, Jorge Fuentes, Noreen Charlton, Deepu John

Commander Jonathan Dopp started his law enforcement career with the Flagler County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office in 2006. He has worked in patrol, crime suppression and major case units throughout the course of his career, with collateral duties as an FTO, bike patrol deputy and member of the Emergency Response Team and Unmanned Aircraft Systems team. He is currently an evening watch commander in the Community Policing Division. In 2018 he took a leadership role on the Emergency Response Team and ultimately became the team commander in 2021. During this time, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) were developed as a search and rescue capability, and in 2022 the agency formally began its UAS program. Since then, the program has grown from one active pilot to 12, with three drones in service 24 hours a day. Along with conducting search and rescue missions, the UAS team also conducts fugitive apprehension operations, large event overwatch, traffic flow monitoring and officer safety support functions.

Sergeant Jorge Fuentes started his law enforcement career in 2006 with the South Daytona Police Department as a police officer assigned to road patrol. In 2010, he was hired by the Flagler County Sheriff Office as a deputy sheriff assigned to road patrol. In 2013, he became a major case detective with collateral duties of cellular mapping and digital forensics and a negotiator with the Crisis Negotiations Team. In 2021, he was promoted to corporal and assigned to the General Assignment Unit as a supervisor. In 2023, he was promoted to sergeant and assigned back to road patrol, where he is currently working. In 2023, he joined the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program and is currently its chief pilot.

Noreen Charlton has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. For more than a decade, she worked in the Crime Scene Investigations section of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in Las Vegas, Nevada. Throughout her time in the field, she responded to nearly 4,000 scenes, including the Route 91 Harvest Festival mass shooting. For several years, she has focused on the instruction and implementation of 3D technologies for public safety applications and has assisted with the documentation and forensic analysis of many high-profile cases. As a member of the Crime Scene Investigations body of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences’ Academy Standards Board, she actively contributes to the development and advancement of industry standards in crime scene investigations.

Deepu John joined Skydio as a solutions engineer in 2021. In this role, he collaborates with account executives and the sales team to conduct equipment demonstrations, technical validations and proofs of concept. Deepu is widely recognized for his expertise in the use of drones in law enforcement. Before joining Skydio, Deepu served 20 years in the New York City Police Department. During his tenure, he held the position of UAS coordinator within the Technical Assistance Response Unit (TARU). His responsibilities included managing the technical and regulatory aspects of the NYPD’s UAS program, researching new technologies and establishing training standards and curriculum for UAS pilots. He also served as the program’s chief UAS pilot. Deepu has earned the rank of Detective Second Grade in the NYPD and received several awards and commendations from his work in technical investigations and electronic surveillance. Deepu has served as a member of the faculty at the NYPD Criminal Investigator’s Course. He has also served as an advisor to the FAA’s Unmanned Traffic Management working group and the Droneresponders Major Cities Working Group. Deepu has served at the State University of New York, Albany’s National Center for Security and Preparedness as a UAS instructor. Through his role at Skydio, Deepu continues to work closely with public safety and law enforcement agencies across the country to unlock the potential of drones to make the work of law enforcement agencies safer and more effective.