The FCPD (Fairfax County Police Department) has revealed their DFR (Drones as a First Responder) program. Following this, their drone supplier, Skydio, announced that they will be investing $3.5 billion in the industry. The Department has used drones prior, but is expanding their use.
The DFR program utilizes drones or UAVs (Unmanded Aerial Vehicles) to respond to scenes before the police arrive. This is done in order to evaluate the scene, and gather information without having to put an officer at risk. These drones can also be used to aid in search and rescues, crashes, and fires. The drones have high definition cameras and microphones, but do not have weapons attached.
The FCPD has publicly put out successful examples of their DFR program.
“Officers responded to a domestic incident where a man threatened family members with a baseball bat. When officers arrived, the suspect fled on foot through nearby yards. A DFR drone was deployed and maintained visual contact with the suspect as he attempted to evade officers. Responding units were guided to the suspect’s location, he was safely taken into custody,” The FCPD wrote on their website.
UAVs have been used by the FCPD since 2019, but at a smaller rate. In the upcoming months, 18 DFR launch locations will be installed across the county. With one in every district station. The FCPD has embraced this new drone technology.
“We are proud to be at the tip of the spear when it comes to identifying technology to ensure safer outcomes for police officers and for community members..I think that the drone as a first responder concept and the program, we’re proud to champion it in Fairfax County, it’s changing the DNA of how we police,” Kevin Davis, FCPD Chief of Police said in a press conference.
In the FCPD, pilots operating the drones have to have licences. They need the FAA part 107 sUAS certification.
Skydio, the company that manufactures the drones used by the FCPD, announced in a press conference that they will be investing $3.5 billion in the drone industry. With this money, the company plans on expanding their U.S. factory times five and adding 2,000 new jobs.
“These products have the potential to fully transform the way a number of our critical industries work including public safety,” Adam Bry the Co-founder and CEO of Skydio said in a press conference.
The use of drone technology in the police and public safety area has greatly increased in recent years. The helpfulness of these programs will be determined by the results of drone use in the upcoming months and years.
“We are in the midst of a fundamental paradigm shift in what drones are. The new way is to put the drone in a docking station, it’s powered by AI, it can be flown remotely and autonomously. The technology presents the opportunity for us to lead this next chapter,” Adam Bry said.
