How Police Drones Help Keep Communities Safe Across America (2024)

6 Core Functions Of Drones In The U.S. Police Force

1. Drones As A First Responder (DFR)

The DFR concept in the United States gained traction in the mid-2010s, with early adopters like the Chula Vista Police Department in California leading the way. They formed a UAS Committee in December 2015 to weave drones into public safety operations, focusing on best practices, public trust, and privacy. By the summer of 2017, after engaging the community and refining their approach, CVPD launched its UAS Program to support tactical operations without engaging in general surveillance.

Fast forward to October 22, 2018, and Chula Vista became the first U.S city to deploy drones for 911 calls, dispatching them from the police department’s rooftop directly to emergency scenes. Getting a a Beyond Visual Line of Sight waiver in May 2019, broadened the operational area within the city. Three months later, the Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD) enhanced its drone fleet with two new DJI Matrice 210 V2 drones, funded by the generous support of the Chula Vista Police Foundation. The following year, in September 2020, they further upgraded their capabilities by acquiring seven DJI Matrice 300 drones, thanks to additional donations and grant. We've compared the Matrice 300 with the newer flagship released from the brand here: DJI M350 RTK vs DJI M300 RTK.

The department's expansion continued into March 2021 when CVPD received FAA authorization to launch drones from any city location—a national first. By November of that year, partnerships with local institutions like Southwestern College, Ayres Hotel, and Sharp Hospital enabled city-wide coverage. The unique two-to-one waiver also allowed the launching of two drones from each site, enhancing the efficiency and scope of their response.

Over the first two months, the Montgomery County Police Department has used their Raven drone to respond to 159 calls in downtown Silver Spring, arriving first at the scene 76% of the time with an impressive average response time of just 81 seconds. This quick deployment allowed for the location of 27 individuals and in 22 instances it completely eliminated the need for any ground units to be sent to the scene. This efficiency with using the drones allowed 40 officers to be reassigned to other pressing needs across the community.

Also Read: Top 12 Drones for Police in 2024: Full Guide, Reviews And Feature Breakdown

These drones, stationed on retrofitted rooftops, will be remotely operated from the NYPD Joint Operations Center, providing real-time video and telemetry to officers via smartphones. The drones will respond to ShotSpotter alerts, which detect gunfire through a network of microphones, allowing them to arrive at crime scenes ahead of ground units. This setup aims to enhance situational awareness, officer safety, and resource deployment efficiency. The NYPD already utilizes drones for major events and infrastructure monitoring, but the new program marks a significant expansion in their use for rapid response and crime scene management​​.

Fullerton Police Department in California spent around $15,000, to conduct a 30-day trial for its own DFR program last summer, and this was the performance as highlighted by Lt. Tony Rios:

•Total Calls Handled: The drone was dispatched to over 340 calls for service.

•Response Efficiency: In 194 instances, the drone arrived at the scene before any patrol officers.

•Resource Optimization: The drone independently resolved 85 calls that would typically require a two-officer team, effectively freeing up 170 officers for other urgent duties throughout the city.

•Priority One Calls: The drone was deployed to 57 high-priority calls. For these, the drone's average response time was notably faster at 2 minutes and 19 seconds, compared to the 3 minutes and 52 seconds average for patrol officers.

A late-night search in Lake County, Ohio, for a father and son who had not returned from kayaking demonstrated the effectiveness of drones in challenging conditions. The Lake County drone team, using Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced and Matrice drones, located the pair on an island in the Grand River within five minutes of deployment. The drones, equipped with thermal sensors and spotlights, provided essential assistance in navigating the heavily wooded and cliff-bordered terrain. This quick discovery by the drone team enabled ground units to execute a safe rescue by kayak, underlining the crucial role of advanced drone technology in ensuring swift and safe rescues.

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3. Traffic Management and Accident Scene Analysis

With drones, police can quickly identify issues on the road and relay this information in real time to traffic control centers. They help monitor traffic flow, detect congestion points, and even assist in planning optimal routes for commuters. This real-time data is important for making quick decisions that keep thing moving smoothly. Plus, during major events or rush hours, drones can provide updates that help adjust signal timings and manage movement more effectively - and even carry loudspeakers to communicate to road users. Since agencies can use the drones to collect extensive data over time, it makes it easier to analyze long-term traffic patterns. The departments can then put together strategies aimed at reducing bottlenecks and improving overall traffic flow.

This was the case during the 2023 SuperMotocross Finals at the Chicagoland Speedway, where the Joliet Police Department used drone tech to get real-time aerial surveillance of traffic patterns around key roadways such as Rt 53/S Chicago St, Laraway Rd, and others, allowing the police to direct traffic flow efficiently and respond swiftly to any congestion or incidents. This drone usage was operated by a certified FAA drone pilot, ensuring adherence to safety and legal standards.

The drones also came in handy during this year's 4th of July Fireworks, as detailed here:

TRAFFIC ALERT / Annual 4th of July Fireworks Show

Tonight (7/4) is the @JolietPark 4th of July Fireworks. There'll be parking lot closures & traffic alterations; noted below. @JolietPolice will be on site for security & traffic control.@TheCityofJoliet #JolietFireworks pic.twitter.com/ECCP34qQrn

— Joliet Police Department (@JolietPolice) July 4, 2024

When it comes to crash scenes, the UAVs can get the sites before police and emergency response teams, and help them quickly strategize the best ways to deal with it. Moreover, they capture visual data without disturbing the area, which aids in reconstructing the crash site for subsequent legal and insurance investigations.

For instance, the Anne Arundel County Police used a DJI drone to document the accident scene on Ritchie Highway where a minibus was struck by a falling tree. It captured a comprehensive set of videos and images, ensuring extensive coverage with overlapping shots. This raw visual data was then processed using Pix4Dmapper photogrammetry software, converting images into precise point clouds, 3D models, and orthom*osaics. These digital outputs were crucial, as they were subsequently integrated into Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software to create detailed diagrams and facilitate thorough follow-up analyses and collision investigation reporting.

The orthom*osaic map generated in Pix4Dmapper was imported into CAD software to construct accurate diagrams of the incident, including a direct overlay of the damaged vehicle’s profile onto its pre-accident condition for a clear assessment of the extent of damage. Measurements derived from these diagrams provided quantitative data on the impact force and the vehicle's speed at the time of the crash. Additionally, the post-impact movement of the vehicle was analyzed, detailing its trajectory, distance covered, and rotation angles post-collision. Read about this accident reconsustruction in detail here.

Here are some other departments using UAVs to analyze crash sites and control traffic flow:

4. Surveillance and Crowd Monitoring

In 2016, the Baltimore Police Department started using 'spy planes' for surveillance, but public sentiment was overwhelmingly against it, so the program was stopped. The program was reintroduced in May 2020 under the moniker Aerial Investigation Research (AIR). This second attempt aimed to cover 90% of the city for about 12 hours each day with the aircraft, in an effort to curb the city's high crime rates. It faced immediate criticism, with concerns that it trampled over the privacy rights of Baltimore’s residents. All the unease led to Baltimore city councilors casting their votes the following February to bring the program to an end.

The legal battle over AIR made it to the federal courts as well. By July 2021, after a string of legal challenges supported by privacy advocates like the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Rutherford Institute, the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals deemed the program a violation of the Fourth Amendment.

The audited report on Baltimore's AIR Program, conducted by the Policing Project at NYU Law, revealed that the re-launched initiative mostly adhered to established guidelines, albeit with some notable concerns regarding privacy and uneven surveillance practices - performing much better than its 2016 predecessor. It acknowledged that a substantial portion of the population was surveilled with the intent of enhancing public safety, but it also highlighted the need for stricter regulations to prevent invasive surveillance. Recommendations included requiring legislative authorization for such operations to ensure they are used judiciously and maintaining public trust.

The full report is available here: Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Audit of Baltimore's AIR Program

Whether it's by spy planes or enterprise drones, surveillance is a pretty sensitive topic. Just check out these 3 court cases on drone privacy laws.

There are strict privacy measures, such as posting notices during surveillance and retaining flight path records. Videos, images, and sounds must be deleted within 24 hours after the parades and special events.

For broader applications not tied to specific events, data must be deleted within 30 days unless certain conditions apply, such as reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, relevance to an ongoing investigation, or use for future training purposes.

The law however prohibits the drones from being used at political protests and other assemblies protected by the First Amendment. It also bars the attachment of weapons or the use of facial recognition technology during flights, except under extreme circ*mstances such as imminent threats based on credible intelligence.

On the other hand, the State of Tennessee enacted UAS legislation in 2021 that allows law enforcement can use drones without a search warrant when providing security at public events like concerts, covering natural disasters when there's a state of emergency, and investigating crime scenes. However, if the event is on private property, they'll need the property owner's consent. Also, they extended the time to hold onto evidence captured on the drone from 10 to 40 days, unless it's relevant to an investigation or ongoing criminal case.

Crowd monitoring drones provide a high vantage point, offering real-time aerial views that improve situational awareness for law enforcement, for them to identify potential disturbances or emergencies from above​. Plus it costs way much less than using helicopters to keep track of the swathes of people (and is less distracting to them too). The live video feeds to command centers enables swift decision-making, and these drones can be equipped with various tools such as spotlights and loudspeakers for different operational needs, like conveying messages to the people.

Here is a game where the Brockton Cops used drone tech:

Also Read: How NYPD Drones Are Transforming Beach Safety This Summer

5. Tactical Support for S.W.A.T. Operations and Crisis Negotiation Teams

When Denny’s Restaurant in Campbell, California witnessed an armed standoff, law enforcement teams had to use a drone to monitor the suspect's movements. It all began a suspect threatened a Denny's employee with a gun following an argument in the parking lot. The suspect barricaded himself inside, but Campbell Police, with assistance from Sunnyvale and Santa Clara County Sheriff's departments, responded quickly. Over the course of nearly 11 hours, officers from the Campbell Police S.W.A.T. and Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) tried to coax the suspect to surrender, using the UAV to provide real-time updates on the suspect's location since he was moving around within the restaurant – from booths, doorways and even at times going to the roof. The standoff ended in the afternoon after chemical agents were used inside the building, causing the suspect to come outside and surrender.

Drones have also been formally incorporated into procedures for dealing with active shooters and executing search warrants​ by the LAPD – Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).

The drones can even be used when the response teams need to track down suspects! This was the case on July 10, 2024, police in St. Clair, Missouri got a tip-off about some suspicious activity involving underground cable spools being carted off through someone's yard.The officers traced the path to a Burlington Northern Railroad shed where they found evidence of theft. As they followed the trail along the railroad tracks, they spotted two stolen ladders. That's when they decided to deploy their department drone to get a better look.

Flying the drone over to a smoky area behind Iron Hill Rd, they discovered the culprits actually burning the rubber off the stolen cables! Using the live video from the drone, the officers set up a perimeter to close off the area and even zeroed in on a nearby house.With the help of Franklin County S.W.A.T. team and detectives, they raided the house, nabbed some suspects, and retrieved the stolen property.Although later complications arose with the prosecutor’s office regarding charges, the deployment of the drone was crucial in locating the suspects and recovering stolen property, as detailed in a press release by Chief Michael L. Wirt of the St. Clair Police Department.

In another case the Alameda County Sheriff's Office was executing a search warrant on a San Leandro home located on the 1200 block of Seeley Street, when one guy tried to make a run for it. They deployed a drone to keep track of him. As part of this raid, they made a hefty haul, arresting 14 individuals for a mix of charges, including drug-related offenses and illegal gambling. Amidst this operation, one individual decided to bolt, running out the back door of the house and leaping over a fence in an attempt to escape. The aerial view from the drone enabled ground units to see exactly where the suspect was headed, even after he jumped the fence and tried to blend into the surroundings one block away. As part of this raid, they made a hefty haul, arresting 14 individuals for a mix of charges, including drug-related offenses and illegal gambling.

6. Forensic and Evidence Collection

The images and videos captured from crime scenes make drones valuable for forensic analysis. They are versatile in regards to the kind of data that can be collected, depending on the payloads that are attached to them. For instance, police drones with Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) systems can be used to map crime scenes in 3-dimensions. Law enforcement teams can get detailed topographical data and reconstruct crime scenes, allowing for a more thorough investigation without disturbing the actual site. Such 3D reconstructions come in handy in courtrooms, giving juries a more vivid and interactive view of the crime scene, far beyond traditional 2D photography​.

For the drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras, they can detect heat variations around a crime scene, including the heat from decomposing remains or even subtle disturbances in the soil where a body might be buried. This is particularly useful for locating concealed evidence or victims in challenging terrains or large areas where manual searches would be impractical or less efficient​.

What about handling and analyzing the data collected? Software solutions can be integrated to automate and enhance the processing and logging forensic evidence, speeding up the entire process and reducing human error. Structure from motion photogrammetry can be used as well, where 3D models are created from 2D drone-captured images, to examine the spatial relationships and dimensions within a crime scene​. The drone in this case carried photogrammetry cameras, and works with Global Positioning System to establish control points on the ground as well as lights for nighttime scans.

The GNSS receivers, which are lightweight and easily operated by a single person, work in tandem with a drone to collect detailed images and measurements of the large area. Software solutions like Pix4D link GNSS positional data to the corresponding drone images. This method improves accuracy and efficiency in managing major incidents, ensuring the collection of crucial forensic data which can be later used to reconstruct events for investigations and legal proceedings.

Fairfax County Police Department actually has a full-time drone program manager—to enhance their operations, which ties in seamlessly with their helicopter program. The department started using the drones in 2019 and they have since been helpful in documenting crime scenes, reconstructing crash sites, and tracking down suspects.These drones work in tandem with helicopters as detailed in a September 2023 news release, providing initial rapid assessments and sustained situational awareness for officers on the ground. You can view their drone missions on this public log:

Drone Training For Police Departments

At DSLRPros, we understand the critical role of drones in policing. That’s why we’ve designed our UAS training programs to empower your personnel with the skills necessary for their work. Whether you're conducting search and rescue operations, overseeing crowd control, or conducting surveillance, our training modules are engineered to help you optimize your department’s operations.

We have classes on Fundamentals of UAS Technology and Operations, which provides a solid foundation in drone piloting, including safety protocols, emergency procedures, maintenance management, and preparation for FAA Part 107 certification. It’s designed to bring novices up to speed on the essentials of drone operations giving them the necessary skills to operate drones safely.

Our class on UAS Operations for Public Safety Applications is particularly beneficial to law enforcement teams, providing hands-on experience in real-world scenarios including tactical drone use, hazmat incidents, brushfires, crash scene mapping/reconstruction and complex emergency response procedures. In addition to the technical skills, it also covers the logistical aspects of starting and running a drone program within a public safety framework - including maintaining drone fleets, FAA regulations, and implementing best practices for data management and privacy concerns.

We also provide UAS Nighttime Operations Training which deals with the complexities of night flying. Officers learn how to with thermal imaging equipment and integrated software, as well as risk mitigation strategies specific to nighttime drone missions. Each session is designed to ensure that your team can use the skills they get under the pressures and demands typical of law enforcement work.

The courses are led by Derrick Ward, DSLRPros’ Director of Public Safety, a veteran UAS expert with a 3+ decade of experience in public safety operations – and who also doubles up as Co-Lead UAS Pilot and Trainer for one of America's largest safety agencies.

We offer flexible training options that cater directly to your needs, and you can book multiple classes at a special rate. With on-site training, our team comes to your location and works with your officers your turf – integrating the lessons into your existing protocols and customizing them to the unique needs of your community. This enhances learning outcomes by addressing actual challenges your team faces and also minimizes downtime, keeping your officers in the field where they are needed most.

Alternatively, for departments looking to combine training with team-building away from daily pressures, our Southern California headquarters gives you a comprehensive training experience with state-of-the-art facilities near major transport hubs. Join the ranks of over 500 professionals who have enhanced their operational capabilities with DSLRPros—because when it comes to public safety, every advantage counts.

FAQs About Police Drones

• What kind of drone do the police use?

Police departments use a variety of drones, each chosen based on specific operational requirements such as surveillance, search and rescue, or tactical interventions. Common models include the DJI Mavic 3 Thermal, known for its portability and rapid deployment capabilities, and the DJI Matrice 350 RTK, favored for its multi-payload capacity and extended flight time. These drones are equipped with advanced features like high-resolution and thermal imaging cameras, real-time video transmission, and autonomous navigation capabilities to enhance situational awareness and operational efficiency. Other models like the Autel Evo II 640T, Skydio X10 and Parrot ANAFI USA are also popular, offering strong encryption for data security and long-range attributes, as well as the Anzu Raptor Thermal (modelled after the Mavic 3T) that also avoids geopolitical concerns regarding foreign-manufactured drones.​

•Can police use drones without a warrant?

The use of drones by police without a warrant varies by jurisdiction and is subject to specific state laws and court decisions. Some states have enacted laws that allow it for circ*mstances like emergency scenarios where there is an immediate threat to safety or cases where the drone is used in public spaces where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy. For example, Tennessee has made it a permanent procedure for police to use drones without a warrant for public events or investigating crime scenes. certain cases, emphasizing the use of technology to enhance public safety while also considering privacy concerns​. Similarly, Texas law allows police broad freedoms to use drones during investigations, permitting them to bypass a required search warrant if they have suspicions of illegal activity​.

In contrast, states like Florida, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, North Dakota, and Virginia require warrants for police use of drones, reflecting a more stringent approach to privacy and civil liberties​. Illinois also has specific regulations, permitting drone use without a warrant only in emergencies or when there is a threat to public safety, and any evidence collected in violation of these stipulations may be deemed inadmissible.

The legality of warrantless drone surveillance is a contentious issue and is seen by some as a potential violation of Fourth Amendment rights, which protect against unreasonable searches and seizures.

•Can police drones see in your house?

Police drones cannot see inside your house through solid walls, roofs, or opaque curtains. These drones are equipped with high-resolution cameras and sometimes thermal imaging sensors, but their capabilities are limited to capturing what is visible from outside. They can potentially see through clear windows if the view is unobstructed by curtains or blinds. However, even with advanced cameras, reflections from sunlight or indoor lights, as well as the material of the window treatments, can hinder visibility. Additionally, the use of such surveillance technology by law enforcement is subject to strict legal regulations and often requires a warrant.

•How long can a police drone stay in the air?

The flight duration of police drones varies significantly based on the model, battery capacity, and the conditions under which they are operated. Typically, the average flight time for law enforcement drones ranges between 20 to 40 minutes. However, some advanced models, like the DJI Matrice 350 RTK, can stay airborne for up to 55 minutes under optimal conditions. Factors such as battery size, drone weight, weather conditions, and the drone's operational activities (like carrying additional payloads or flying in challenging weather) play crucial roles in determining how long a drone can remain airborne.

•Who enforces drone laws?

In the United States, drone laws are primarily enforced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA oversees all aspects of civil aviation in the national airspace, including the operation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones. They set regulations for drone usage to ensure safety and compliance in airspace operations, such as registration requirements, flying restrictions, and operational guidelines​.

Additionally, local and state law enforcement agencies also play a role in enforcing drone laws, especially when drones are used in ways that could violate privacy rights or local ordinances. These agencies may intervene in cases where drones are used inappropriately or dangerously, such as flying in restricted areas or near other aircraft​​.

For detailed information on drone regulations and enforcement for police, visit the FAA's Public Safety and Government UAS page which has extensive resources on how to operate drones within legal parameters.