Auburn police eye drones as future of pursuits and first response
AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL) – The Auburn Police Department is among a select group of law enforcement agencies in the nation—and one of only two in the Southeast—utilizing the Autel Dragonfish drone, a cutting-edge aerial platform with long-range surveillance, thermal imaging, and real-time video capabilities.
With a two-hour flight time and the ability to cover expansive areas quickly, Auburn Police say the Dragonfish drone is vital for finding missing persons and monitoring massive events like game days at Jordan-Hare Stadium, which seats more than 88,000 people.
'You'll probably see it a whole lot on game day operations, crowd control, if we have anything going on at Toomer's Corner—just to monitor crowds and make sure we don't have vehicles in places they don't need to be in,' said Captain James Pescia of the Auburn Police Department.
The drone's capabilities allow officers to pinpoint people in need or quickly detect incidents in dense crowds. In missing person cases, Pescia says time is everything: 'This drone can stay up in the air for almost up to two hours before we have to pull it back down for a battery change, and that could make all the difference in finding somebody or not finding somebody.'
While the technology has inspired hope among the public that drones could offer a safer alternative to dangerous vehicle pursuits, Pescia says the department is not there—yet.
'We intend on building our drone program all the way out with more sophisticated drones—to the point where we will have a drone on the scene before an officer even gets there, providing very valuable intel,' Pescia said. 'So while we can't replace a police pursuit yet—I am hopeful we will be there in the future.'
New data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows just how deadly police pursuits can be. In 2023, 542 people died in pursuit-related crashes nationwide. Of those fatalities:
•318 were occupants of the fleeing vehicle
•196 were occupants of unrelated vehicles
•24 were non-occupants, such as pedestrians
•4 were officers in law enforcement vehicles
Alabama reported 20 fatalities, including 16 in the suspect's vehicle and four innocent bystanders. Georgia saw 26 pursuit-related deaths, including one officer, six unrelated vehicle occupants, and 18 people in the chased vehicle.
Despite the Dragonfish drone's sophisticated features—including vertical takeoff, advanced zoom, and thermal imaging—its use in active police pursuits remains limited due to strict FAA regulations.
'There are currently a lot of restrictions on flying beyond the visual line of sight,' Pescia explained. 'So while the Dragonfish gives us an incredible advantage, it's not something we can rely on exclusively in fast-moving or long-distance chases.'
Still, Auburn Police are part of a national effort to explore the concept of 'Drone as a First Responder,' which could allow agencies more flexibility in deploying drones ahead of officers in certain situations.
The Dragonfish is used daily for patrol support, search-and-rescue operations, traffic monitoring, and crowd control during major city events.
'It is our vision at the Auburn Police Department to start utilizing technology and those resources to be a force multiplier,' Pescia added. 'Our community is expanding exponentially—and very quickly.'
Owned by the City of Auburn, the Dragonfish drone is available to assist any law enforcement agency in East Alabama. Auburn Police say they are committed to deploying the drone wherever it's needed—from county sheriff's offices to neighboring cities like Opelika.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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