Key takeaways on drone as first responder (DFR) programs
- DFR improves officer safety by delivering real-time intelligence before units arrive
- DFR bridges patrol and SWAT by giving first responders more time and distance
- DFR supports city services from public works to emergency management
- Clear policies build community trust in police drone use
- City leaders should act now to secure grants and prepare for DFR readiness
As a seasoned public servant, I have held the ranks of police officer, police corporal, detective, SWAT operator and sniper, sergeant, operations commander, SWAT commander, chief of police, and county manager. Having these experiences, I’ve witnessed firsthand the critical role that response times play for all public services. Over the past 25 years, I’ve been involved in several high-stakes incidents that have shaped my perspective on the importance of technology in improving public services. Looking back, it’s clear that faster access to critical information through drone as first responder (DFR) programs, sometimes called police drone programs or public safety drones, could have changed the trajectory of those moments — for the officers on scene and the communities we served — ultimately leading to better outcomes.
What is drone as first responder (DFR) and why city leaders should care
DFR, in its simplest form, involves launching a drone from a dock the moment a 9-1-1 call is made, providing real-time video to dispatchers, the real-time crime center (RTCC), and officers or emergency personnel before they arrive. This technology improves officer safety, facilitates the resolution of emergency calls for service and ultimately builds credibility with public trust.
Let’s look at three critical incidents where DFR could have made a difference in my professional experiences:
1. Officer-involved shooting
I was part of a SWAT operation that ended in my first and only officer-involved shooting. The suspect, wanted for felonious child-related sex crimes, had threatened to resist arrest and pointed a gun at me as I entered the apartment with a shield in my left hand and a firearm in my right. Along with me, my second stack-positioned SWAT partner fired as well, which ultimately led to the death of the suspect. This traumatic event highlighted the risks officers face and the need for better tools to manage such situations. In hindsight, having a drone with a spotlight and speaker to monitor the suspect’s movements from the outdoor-facing windows and balcony could have allowed us to wait out the standoff longer, potentially avoiding our high-risk entry. Drones now provide real-time overwatch, enabling us to manage such situations more safely and effectively.
2. Salon Meritage massacre
As a corporal in Seal Beach, California, I was one of the first on scene with another sergeant, where we witnessed the aftermath of a tragic mass shooting at a local hair salon. On that day, a gunman opened fire, killing eight people and injuring one. Having a DFR solution during this incident would have provided us with improved situational awareness. Drones are now used in similar scenarios, providing critical real-time information to first responders before they arrive. In such cases, drones can help identify potential escape routes, monitor the perimeter, and provide tactical insights to officers responding to the scene. In this situation, drones would have helped us map and document three total crime scenes in a few hours rather than several days.
3. Domestic violence incident
As a SWAT commander, I experienced the worst case of domestic violence an officer could face. This was a tragic incident involving a friend of mine at the time, who was also a police captain and a local city clerk, which ended in tragic death. The police captain in this case murdered the victim, and it underscored the challenges law enforcement faces when called to domestic violence incidents. If a DFR solution had been available that day, we could have provided overwatch that might have helped manage external threats or monitored situations without risking the safety of our SWAT officers and the community. In domestic violence cases, drones can be used to monitor the surroundings of a scene, ensuring that officers have a clear understanding of the environment before approaching.
Time and distance: The SWAT vs. patrol perspective — and how DFR changes the game
Time and distance are the two most critical tactical assets in law enforcement. My career has allowed me to see both sides of this equation: as a SWAT operator and commander, and as a patrol officer and supervisor. The contrast between these roles is stark, and it’s where the promise of DFR technology truly shines.
The SWAT model: Time, distance, and deliberation
SWAT teams are designed to maximize time and distance. We train to slow situations down, gather every possible detail and use distance as a buffer to reduce risk — not just to ourselves, but to the public and suspects alike. Every movement is calculated. We use surveillance, negotiation and intelligence-gathering to shape the environment before making entry or taking decisive action. The mission always dictates the tempo: sometimes we wait hours, even days, to ensure the safest possible outcome.
As tactical leaders, we are taught that speed does not guarantee safety or surprise. In fact, moving too quickly often increases risk. The more time and distance we have, the more options we can consider — and the more likely we are to resolve a situation without violence.
The patrol reality: Split-second decisions, minimal information
Patrol officers, by contrast, are forced into the opposite paradigm. When the call comes in, they are the first on scene, often with little to no information. The expectation is immediate action — sometimes with only seconds to decide, and with lives on the line. The Supreme Court has recognized that officers are often forced to make split-second judgments in tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving circumstances. This reality is embedded in both law and police culture.
But this “split-second” standard is a double-edged sword. The lack of time and distance means patrol officers are more likely to make decisions they later regret, simply because they didn’t have enough information or space to process the situation fully. Research confirms that faster response times can reduce injuries and increase arrest rates in violent incidents — but only if those responses are informed and coordinated.
The tactical principle: Time-distance ratio
There’s a direct correlation between time and distance during conflict. The more distance an officer can create, the more time they have to assess, communicate, and develop alternative action plans — reducing the need for snap, potentially tragic decisions. This is why SWAT emphasizes “minimum space cushions” and why patrol officers, years ago, were taught the 21-foot rule: a person can close that gap in less than two seconds, often faster than an officer can react.
DFR: Bridging the gap
This is where drone as first responder technology changes everything. DFR gives patrol officers some of the same advantages SWAT teams enjoy:
- Rapid, real-time drone intelligence for police and first responders: Drones can arrive on scene in under 90 seconds — often before any ground unit — providing live video and situational awareness to both dispatch and responding officers. This transforms the response from “blind entry” to informed action.
- Enhanced officer safety through time and distance: By providing an aerial view, DFR extends the “eyes” of officers, allowing them to assess threats, identify suspects, and locate victims without immediately putting themselves in harm’s way.
- De-escalation and better outcomes: With more information and the ability to slow down the tempo, officers can make better decisions, reduce unnecessary use of force, and improve community trust.
In essence, DFR technology provides patrol officers with a tactical edge that previously only SWAT could access — the ability to gather information, control the tempo, and utilize time and distance to their advantage.
Whether it’s a barricaded suspect, an active shooter, or a complex domestic violence call, the ability to see before you enter is transformative. In my own experience, had we had DFR during critical incidents, we could have avoided high-risk entries, mapped crime scenes in hours instead of days, and potentially saved both civilian and officer lives.
The bottom line: SWAT’s luxury is time and distance; patrol’s burden is immediacy and uncertainty. DFR levels the playing field, giving every officer, regardless of assignment, the tools to make safer, smarter, and more informed decisions for the communities they serve.
Drone as first responder infrastructure: Expanding beyond policing and public safety
A DFR program is far more useful than just a new gadget for law enforcement. It is a foundational infrastructure that supports a broad spectrum of public services, extending its value well beyond traditional policing.
DFR’s capabilities are leveraged across missing persons investigations, traffic accident response, community event management and more, making it a critical asset for transparency, accountability and scalable public service solutions. Drones are now integral to the daily operations of urban planning, infrastructure inspection, public works and other government services, fundamentally changing how communities are served and protected.
These expanded drone applications across city and public safety services include:
Parks and recreation
Drones are transforming how parks and recreation departments manage and maintain public spaces. With aerial imagery, staff can assess turf health, monitor the condition of park facilities and document community events with detail. This technology enables proactive maintenance, such as identifying worn basketball courts needing resurfacing or pinpointing parking lots near playgrounds that require new asphalt. The ability to capture comprehensive, real-time data ensures recreational spaces remain safe, attractive and well-maintained for the community.
Public works
For public works departments, drones are invaluable in inspecting and monitoring infrastructure that is difficult or dangerous to access by traditional means. Water towers, reservoirs and remote sections of roadways can be surveyed quickly and safely, reducing the need for costly scaffolding or hazardous climbs. Drones also streamline construction planning by providing real-time site surveys, enabling teams to monitor progress, document changes and identify issues before they escalate. This not only enhances worker safety but also improves project efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Emergency management
In the realm of emergency management, drones are indispensable tools for rapid response and assessment. After disasters such as hurricanes, floods, or avalanches, drones can be deployed immediately to conduct damage assessments, map affected areas and identify zones in urgent need of aid. Their ability to provide high-resolution imagery and thermal data from above accelerates recovery efforts, supports resource allocation, and helps save lives by delivering critical information to first responders.
Bridges and infrastructure inspections
Traditional bridge and infrastructure inspections often require lane closures, scaffolding and significant labor hours. Drones eliminate many of these challenges by providing detailed, high-resolution images and videos of hard-to-reach structures, such as bridge undersides and areas prone to rockfall or ground movement. This approach improves safety for workers, minimizes traffic disruptions, and allows for more frequent and thorough inspections, helping to detect issues early and prevent costly failures.
Permitting and building inspections
Drones are increasingly being used for building façade inspections and permitting processes. By capturing detailed imagery of building exteriors, drones can help identify structural issues, water damage, or code violations that might otherwise go unnoticed until they become serious problems. This proactive approach supports early intervention, reduces the risk of accidents, and streamlines the permitting process for new developments and renovations.
The broader impact: Transparency, accountability and efficiency
The integration of drones into public service infrastructure is driving a new era of transparency and accountability. Real-time aerial data enhances situational awareness and decision-making, enabling government agencies to respond more effectively to both routine operations and emergencies.
The scalability of drone programs means that cities can adapt quickly to changing needs, deploy resources more efficiently, and continuously improve service delivery across departments.
In summary, DFR programs are not merely tools for police; they are transformative infrastructure that underpins a wide array of essential government functions. By embracing drone technology, communities are investing in safer, smarter and more responsive public services for all.
The real barriers — and how city leaders can help
Implementing DFR technology comes with several challenges that city leaders must address. One of the primary barriers is community acceptance and engagement. City leaders can help by fostering open dialogue with residents about the benefits and uses of DFR technology. This includes educating the public on how drones improve safety and efficiency across various city services.
Another challenge is ensuring effective interdepartmental collaboration. City leaders can facilitate this by establishing clear communication channels between departments like public safety, public works, and parks and recreation. This ensures that drones are used efficiently and effectively across different city operations.
In addition, developing robust policies and procedures is essential for a successful and responsible drone program. Agencies must clearly define what drones will — and will not — be used for, such as restricting deployments to emergency calls and prohibiting general surveillance or routine patrols without specific cause.
Policies should outline permitted uses — such as search and rescue, SWAT support and disaster assessment — as well as scenarios where drone deployment is not allowed, like monitoring public gatherings without clear justification or using facial recognition technology.
Data management protocols must address how footage is collected, stored, and retained, with strict limits on retention times and clear rules for public records requests.
Transparency is critical to building and maintaining public trust. Agencies should proactively communicate their policies, publish data on drone deployments (including flight telemetry, purposes, and outcomes), and hold regular public forums with community representatives to present the effectiveness of this technology.
Publicizing the technological capabilities of drones, such as nighttime obstacle avoidance and mapping capabilities, further ensures residents are informed about what the technology can and cannot do. By making these policies and operational data accessible, cities can demonstrate accountability and address concerns about privacy and overreach, ensuring that drones are used as tools for the public good within clear, community-endorsed boundaries.
💡 What your agency should be asking now
- 🚓 Think of your last high-risk call — how would having a drone on scene within 90 seconds have changed your response?
- 🛡️ What barriers would your agency face in launching a DFR program — budget, policy, training, or community perception?
- 🌐 Which city departments beyond police could benefit most from shared access to drones as first responders?
The path forward
Curious cities should start by initiating conversations about DFR readiness. This involves assessing current capabilities and identifying areas where DFR can enhance response times and safety. For example, cities can evaluate their existing emergency response protocols and determine how drones can be integrated to provide real-time visuals during emergencies.
Identifying grant opportunities is also crucial. Cities can explore federal grants or state-specific programs that support public safety technology. Additionally, consulting experts in the DFR industry can provide valuable insights into best practices for implementing DFR.
DFR is a transformative solution
This isn’t about technology; it’s about leadership and readiness. Ask yourself: If your city faces a critical emergency tomorrow, would your team have the tools to respond quickly, safely, and with clarity?
DFR technology is not just a tool for law enforcement; it’s a strategic asset for enhancing community safety and resilience across all city services. Together, we can create safer, more responsive communities.
By embracing DFR, city leaders can demonstrate their commitment to innovation and public safety. It’s time to harness the power of drones to build a better future for our communities.
