The County Police Department (MCPD) is upgrading its Drone as First Responder (DFR) program with a new dock-based drone system. The drones are used to respond to certain 911 calls before officers arrive on scene.
How it works
The department announced the replacement of its current drones with a new system that allows drones to launch automatically from docking stations located throughout the county. The system is designed to improve emergency response times and expand operational coverage throughout the county.
Under the new system, six drone sites will be equipped with two docking stations each. The drones remain stored in the docks until they are needed for a call. When dispatched, they can fly to an incident, provide live video to police, and then return to their docking station to recharge.
According to MCPD, the drones will be operated remotely from the county’s Joint Operations Center at Public Safety Headquarters.
The department said the upgraded technology will allow drones to travel farther and remain in service for longer periods of time. Police have also received approval to fly the drones beyond the operator’s direct line of sight, eliminating the need for an observer to watch the aircraft from the ground.
The rollout takes place in phases. According to MCPD, the first phase includes Downtown Silver Spring, White Oak, the Gaithersburg and Montgomery Village area, and Germantown. Officials said the Germantown system is already operational. Equipment upgrades in Wheaton and Bethesda are expected to be completed this summer.
Privacy
MCPD said privacy protections remain a key part of the program.
According to police, DFR drones are used only to respond to 911 calls for service or to assist officers already at an incident. The drones are not equipped with microphones and do not use facial recognition technology.
Officials also said drone cameras are pointed toward the horizon while traveling to and from calls for service to help protect residents’ privacy.
MCPD will continue to publicly document every DFR drone response through its online dashboard, which includes the location of each flight and the reason for the call for service.
The department said the upgraded system represents the next phase of its Drone as First Responder program and is intended to improve the delivery of public safety services while maintaining transparency and accountability.
