US police departments expand drone use for emergency response

Police departments in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Houston, Texas, are implementing or expanding drone programs to enhance emergency response and officer safety.

The Chattanooga Police Department has launched a pilot program using drones as first responders. Positioned at fire stations in areas identified as high-risk for violent crime, these drones are dispatched to 911 calls to provide real-time video feeds to the department’s Real Time Intelligence Center. The drones are unarmed and intended to provide situational awareness to officers en route, bypassing traffic to reach scenes faster. Officials stated the program adheres to Tennessee’s Freedom of Unwarranted Surveillance Act.

Similarly, the Houston Police Department is expanding its drone fleet, funded by the Houston Police Foundation. The technology is intended to provide officers with better views of dangerous situations, such as police pursuits, to inform critical decision-making. The department noted that safeguards are in place to ensure drones are tied to specific cases rather than being used for general surveillance.