The Reno Police Department has now used its Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program for seven months. The drones do not replace officers but instead help officers by arriving on the scene first and is operated by an officer.
“It’s very helpful because depending on the escalation of the situation,” said Hunter Mercurio, Public Information Officer for the Reno Police Department. “Let’s say it was a report of a fight. If we have a drone show up to that call, they can get eyes on the fight, or they can see if the fight is dispersed. It can really help us de-escalate or properly prepare for those calls that we’re responding to.”
Mercurio also says it also helps eliminate the number of calls officers respond to that turn out not to be anything. Instead, the eyes in the sky let officers know it’s not a real emergency, and they can be more efficient with their deployments.
DFR can be used in all types of situations; crimes in progress, helping to locate missing people, and even replacing car chases that put officers and the public in danger…