Arlington PD Announces Expansion of Drone as a First Responder Program

Recognizing the tremendous value and effectiveness UAS technology brings to public safety, the Arlington Police Department is excited to announce the expansion of its Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program. To enhance officer response on the ground when a call for service comes in, APD employees who are licensed UAS pilots can fly a drone to a scene, scope out the area from above, and provide important, real-time information to the responding officers. Because drones are oftentimes able to reach scenes more quickly than a patrol vehicle navigating city roadways can, this approach can help officers more swiftly identify and locate suspects, make better-informed decisions, and better protect themselves and community members. The department initially rolled out its DFR program to help respond to the influx of fireworks calls during the 4th of July and New Year’s Eve weekends. Now, DFR can be used to respond to a variety of in-progress calls including burglaries, aggravated assaults, missing persons, and more. Additionally, APD is among the first law enforcement agencies in the U.S. to receive a Beyond Visual Line of Sight waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration. This allows APD drone pilots to fly drones greater distances than what is typically authorized and to remotely pilot drones from inside the department’s Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), boosting the overall effectiveness of the DFR program. APD has installed DFR docks at two strategic locations within the city where RTCC personnel can instantly launch a drone. The drones can fly up to a 1.5 mile radius from the docks and reach speeds of up to 50 mph. For more information, visit: https://www.arlingtontx.gov/News-Arti...