The Minnetonka Police Department recently announced a new initiative that is setting a precedent for law enforcement agencies across Minnesota. According to a news release from the City of Minnetonka, they’re spearheading the state’s first Drones as First Responders (DFR) program. This brings unmanned aerial technology to the forefront of their emergency response strategy.
“We are committed to using every tool available to make our community safer, and this DFR program does exactly that,” said Scott Boerboom, Minnetonka Chief of Police, in the statement. Through the DFR program, the department aims to quickly assess scenes of emergencies and to significantly minimize the risk to its officers. Drones, supplied by American drone manufacturer Skydio, will be deployed to provide live video feeds from crime scenes, fires, or searches for missing persons, effectively beginning to resolve incidents even before law enforcement arrives physically.
Quantifiable benefits already surface from pilots of similar initiatives: response times have been shaved by minutes, and for one in four calls, boots on the ground were deemed unnecessary due to the drones’ assistance. The Minnetonka Police hope to replicate and perhaps exceed these outcomes with their program. With cameras taking flight, officers can get a secure first look at what they’re walking into, improving not just efficiency but also their safety…