North Richland Hills tests drone program to help speed police response times
North Richland Hills police are testing advanced drone technology that officials say could help officers respond to accidents and other high priority calls more quickly and efficiently.
The Drone as First Responder program testing will begin in about a week, said Carissa Katekaru, a spokesperson for the police department.
The DFR program is from a company called Skydio, based in San Mateo, California. The advanced technology will allow drones to be launched remotely, Katekaru said.
According to information in a news release, a drone can be over head, pinpointing the location of an accident or other incident within minutes, which saves “precious time.”
The Drone as First Responder program doesn’t replace police officers, the department said; it just gets them to the scene more quickly. The department currently has a drone team for other purposes.
The drones will be tested with priority one calls including accidents and reports of missing children, Katekaru said.
The drones will also be tested during fire calls as needed, Katekaru said.
Police chief Jeff Garner said the program “represents an opportunity for us to obtain more accurate information and get eyes on a situation faster, leading to safer outcomes for everyone.”
During the testing, drones will launch from two docking areas in strategic locations in the city, allowing pilots to launch as fast as 20 seconds, according to the news release.
The program will comply with all departmental policies and federal laws, police said. The department is “committed to privacy rights and has multiple safeguards in place” for administration of the program, according to the news release.
The police department’s drone pilots will decide when to launch based on a call’s priority and the drone’s ability to provide assistance. The cost of the program is unclear, as several vendors are available and cost varies based on the number of drones and docking stations needed.
