The Denton Police Department and Denton Fire Department announced they will implement a trial utilizing the Drone as First Responder, DFR, program for the month of October.
What’s happening?
Operations began Oct. 1 for the DFR program. According to a social media post from the departments, the trial is designed to test emergency response times, provide real-time updates during emergency situations and enhance overall public safety. The trial will run through Oct. 31, according to a city news release.
“When someone calls 911, every second matters,” Interim Police Chief Tony Salas said. “The DFR pilot program allows officers and firefighters to arrive on scene with improved situational awareness, helping us keep Denton safe for everyone.”
The release states Denton officers and firefighters who are certified drone pilots will operate Skydio X10 DFR drones within seconds of a 911 call being placed. The drones will specifically respond to:
Traffic crashes
Missing persons
Robberies in progress
Structure fires
Water rescues
During the pilot program, the two drones will be housed in separate docking stations where they are powered, said Amy Cunningham, Denton Police Department's public information liaison.
The drones will not replace human first responders and are designed to provide additional information before first responders arrive on a scene so personnel can safely and more effectively assess a situation.
The city has a drone dashboard where the public can see what drones are being deployed in real time. The drones will be used specifically for 911 calls and won’t be used to monitor or police neighborhoods, the release states.
What else?
Cunningham said the purpose of the monthlong trial is to study the data gathered from DFR and to possibly look into other DFR vendors.
"If the data shows that DFR may be a good fit for Denton, we will present information to City Council and explore funding opportunities," she said.
The DFR program expands on the city’s Joint Public Safety Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) Program that launched in 2022, which is used by the police and fire departments.
Several other cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area have started using the Drone as First Responder program on a permanent or trial basis, such as Prosper, Plano, Dallas and Fort Worth.
