Cincinnati police are moving toward a future where drones play a key role in daily operations, according to Cincinnati.com The department plans to operate a fleet of twenty two drones by 2033. This is a major shift in how the city approaches aerial support for emergencies and tactical situations.
For many years the Cincinnati Police Department relied on helicopters from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. Those aircraft were shared between agencies and were not always available when officers needed an urgent aerial view. Helicopters can provide long range observation and strong tracking abilities, but they come with high costs, large crews, heavy fuel use, and long preparation times. It takes time to get a helicopter off the ground, and every minute counts when a search or pursuit is underway.
Two years ago, the sheriff’s office sold its two helicopters. Each one sold for around 670,000 dollars. The office made that decision because operating the aircraft cost about 400,000 dollars per year in upkeep. That number does not include the original purchase price, fuel costs, or the labor needed to operate them. The office has since moved fully into drone operations.
The city saw the same pattern. A drone can take off almost instantly. One operator can handle the flight. Battery swaps are simple. Launch locations are flexible. This creates a faster response during missing person searches, crime scene surveys, pursuits, and disaster events. With a full drone fleet, Cincinnati officers will have an eye in the sky much more often than in the past…