Bridgeport Police Department Adopts 'Drone as First Responder' Program

Bridgeport's New Drone Program

• Bridgeport, Connecticut's largest city, is launching a 'drone as first responder' program to enhance public safety.
• The initiative involves a partnership with Flock Safety, a company specializing in law enforcement drones.

Drone Capabilities and Deployment

• The drones can fly up to 60 miles per hour and are equipped with low-light and thermal imaging.
• They can read license plates from 2,000 feet away, providing valuable aerial surveillance.
• The aerial view will assist firefighters in assessing the scale of fires and deploying resources more quickly.
• Two drones will be strategically placed across the city and operated remotely from the city's law enforcement fusion center.

Funding and Privacy Measures

• The program is funded by a half-million-dollar grant from the state senate.
• To address privacy concerns, drones will only be deployed in response to a call for service.
• Flight logs will be publicly accessible, and encrypted footage will be retained for 30 days.
• The program is set to officially launch in the next couple of months.