MINNEAPOLIS – Minnetonka police will soon begin sending drones first to some 911 calls to gauge the situations faster and, in some minor cases, determine whether human officers are still needed.
“By deploying drones to calls within moments, we can assess situations faster, send the right resources and help protect both the public and our officers,” Minnetonka Police Chief Scott Boerboom said in a statement Friday, when the department announced it will become the first in Minnesota to join the Drones as First Responders program.
More than 100 law enforcement agencies in Minnesota used drones last year, according to statistics compiled by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Agencies have used them to help search for missing people, document severe weather damage or track traffic congestion, among other things…