Arlington Police Deploy Drones as First Responders for Emergency Calls

Expanding Drone Use for Emergency Response

• 🚀 The Arlington Police Department is expanding its drone program to respond to serious incidents like assaults and burglaries.
• 💡 This initiative positions the department as one of the first in the nation to use drones as first responders for emergency calls.

Real-Time Crime Center Integration

• 🎯 The real-time crime center is now launching drones to emergency runs, providing eyes at the scene before officers arrive.
• 📹 During a mock burglary call, a drone was dispatched as the first responder, relaying information about a suspect's appearance and location to officers en route.
• 🚓 The drone footage aided in the apprehension of a suspect by a K-9 unit.

Enhanced Capabilities and Training

• 🗺️ A waiver from the FAA allows pilots to fly drones greater distances, expanding their operational range.
• 🏙️ Arlington PD has 15 drones strategically stationed around the city, with 40 officers and staff members licensed to fly them.
• 📈 Last year, APD conducted over a thousand drone flights during police runs.

Privacy and Safety Considerations

• 🔒 For privacy, drones will only record at the scene when necessary and not during general flight.
• 🤝 The use of unmanned aircraft is intended to be safer for officers and aid in deescalation.
• ☁️ Police believe the drones provide a significant crime-fighting advantage from the sky.