US police departments expand drone‑first‑responder programs after FAA waiver surge

Hundreds of U.S. law‑enforcement agencies have obtained more than 1,000 Federal Aviation Administration Part 91 waivers, allowing them to operate automated drones beyond visual line of sight as first‑responder units. The FAA issued more waivers between April 2025 and February 2026 than in the previous seven years combined, enabling agencies to station launch pads on municipal buildings and control multiple drones from a desk.

The technology is being adopted for a range of calls, from high‑risk incidents such as the Sacramento SWAT operation that used a drone to disarm an armed suspect, to low‑risk situations involving mental‑health concerns, noise complaints and assistance to unhoused individuals. Nationwide use of police drones has nearly tripled since 2020, supporting over 20,000 calls and contributing to more than 3,000 arrests. Vendors such as Axon and Flock Safety report rapid growth in sales linked to the new waivers.

Civil‑liberties groups have raised privacy concerns, noting a potential chilling effect on public behavior and differing state regulations. The expansion marks a significant shift in aerial surveillance capabilities for public‑safety agencies across the United States.