North Richland Hills police are launching a Skydio Drone as First Responder trial this month, putting eyes on accident scenes and active emergencies before the first patrol unit arrives. Two docking stations will sit at a strategic central location in the city, letting pilots launch a drone in as little as 20 seconds.
The trial drops a Tarrant County suburb of roughly 70,000 residents into the same conversation as Dallas, Bloomington, and Fairfax County, the latest U.S. agencies betting on autonomous overhead response.
How the DFR Program Works
Two Skydio docks will go in at a central location in the city. From either dock, a pilot can launch a drone in as little as 20 seconds, head to the call, and stream live video back to officers en route.
Police Chief Jeff Garner did not understate the goal. “DFR technology brings another level of service to our residents,” he said in the department’s announcement. “When it comes to working in partnership with our community, this technology is a game-changer.” In a related statement, Garner described the program as “an opportunity for us to obtain more accurate information and get eyes on a situation faster, leading to safer outcomes for everyone.”…