The Orlando Police Department launched a drone as a first responder program.
The Orlando Police Department officially launched its Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program, a new public safety investment designed to improve emergency response times, officer decision-making, and overall public safety outcomes for residents during the first critical minutes of 911 calls.
The program includes the deployment of 11 Skydio X10 DFR drones across nine sites, allowing OPD to get eyes on any scene within city limits in seconds, often before patrol units arrive. It also includes Axon Prepared, a technology that allows drone pilots to listen to 911 calls in real time.
According to OPD, unlike traditional drone programs that require officers to transport and set up equipment, DFR drones are housed in permanent docking stations and remain powered and ready at all times. When launched, drones fly directly to incident locations using GPS coordinates and transmit live video to sworn officers in OPD’s Crime Center who are certified and licensed to operate drones by the FAA.
OPD also stated that live video allows officers to quickly determine whether a situation is high-risk, low-risk, or a false alarm, allocate the appropriate resources, improve de-escalation efforts, and reduce unnecessary high-risk responses.
“When a 911 call comes in, officers are often making high-stakes decisions with limited information,” said Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith. “This program gives us the ability to get eyes on a scene in seconds, helping officers arrive safer, make better-informed decisions, and quickly locate violent suspects who pose a threat to our community.”
Capt. Cindy Lane – OPD Crime Center Introduction, Lt. Brian Donohue – Outdoor Drone Demonstration, and Officer Todd Montford – Sworn, FAA-certified drone pilot, all were part of the official launch.
DFR drones are not used for random patrols or mass surveillance. State law governs the types of calls that the drones can respond to. Deployments occur only in response to specific 911 calls, similar to traditional patrol responses.
With the launch of the Drone as a First Responder program, Orlando joins other forward-thinking communities, including St. Cloud, Tampa, Miami, New York, Las Vegas, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and Phoenix, that have already modernized their emergency response.
OPD’s DFR program costs approximately $759,000 per year for the first nine years. The cost includes the replacement of drones every two and a half years and the replacement of docks every 5 years. Equipment is purchased through OPD’s existing Axon contract, which already supports the department’s body-worn cameras and conducted energy devices.
The post Orlando Police Department Launches Drone as First Responder Program appeared first on West Orlando News.
Source: West Orlando News
Published: 2026-07-03 02:15:00