Latest news with #DroneasFirstResponderProgram
Axios
03-04-2025
- Axios
Dunwoody police drones now beat officers to 911 calls
Next time you dial 911 in Dunwoody, the first responder to arrive on the scene could be hovering 400 feet above you, humming and watching. Driving the news: Dunwoody is the latest law enforcement agency in metro Atlanta to deploy drones that can fly to emergencies and gather intel faster than officers can drive through suburban gridlock. Why it matters: Police surveillance technology is big business in metro Atlanta, where a connected network of public and private — and not always functioning — cameras, license plate readers and other tech have made our home one of the most surveilled places per capita in the world. State of play: For the past several months, Dunwoody Police have launched a Flock Safety drone from a climate-controlled nest on top of City Hall that can travel nearly anywhere in the city in 90 seconds, according to the law enforcement agency The Atlanta-based company's Drone as First Responder Program vehicles hover hundreds of feet in the air to provide police an early vantage point of an emergency, Tom Pethtel, Flock's vice president of engineering, told Axios. In some cases, the drone can arrive before the 911 call operator finishes logging a caller's details. Yes, but: The American Civil Liberties Union, privacy advocates, and some communities where Flock's and other companies' products are used raise concerns about targeted monitoring of individuals and groups and what the company and police do with the data and information they collect. The ACLU calls on police departments to only use drones when they have a warrant or during an emergency and only keep images when there's a "reasonable suspicion" that they contain evidence. What they're saying: Pethtel says the drones are designed to complement the work of on-the-ground officers, not roving patrols. Holly Beilin, a Flock spokesperson, told Axios the company maintains " transparency portals" to inform the public about how long the data is stored, what the technology can and can't be used for, what entities have access to the data, and more. Zoom out: Police departments in Brookhaven, Atlanta and other metro cities have used drones to respond to 911 calls. Catch up quick: Founded in 2017 by Georgia Tech graduates Garrett Langley and Matt Feury, the startup unicorn is valued at more than $7.5 billion and employs more than 130 people. 4,500 law enforcement agencies across the country use its surveillance cameras, automatic license-plate readers and drones, according to the company. On Wednesday, Gov. Brian Kemp joined the company to open a 97,000-square-foot factory in Smyrna.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Yahoo
New data shows crime declining in Silver Spring
The Brief The Downtown Silver Spring Business District has seen a 7.6 percent decrease in crime within the past year, according to Montgomery County Department of Police. Increased patrols and community engagement initiatives are part of the reason why, police said. Some people in Silver Spring Friday said they've noticed the change, others said not so much. SILVER SPRING, Md. - Crime is down in Silver Spring, according to the Montgomery County Department of Police. By the numbers Crime is down 7.6 percent in the Downtown Silver Spring Business District within the past year, according to police. They also said that according to statistics from 2023 to 2024, carjackings are down 68 percent, robberies have fallen by 24 percent, and homicides have decreased by 25 percent. Dig deeper Police attribute the improved numbers to a combination of factors, including increased patrols and community engagement initiatives. Officials also singled out initiatives like the Drone as First Responder Program, the Police-Private Security Camera Incentive Program, and the Real Time Intelligence Center. "Silver Spring sometimes gets a bad rap," said 3rd District Commander Jason Cokinos, "but I will tell you that the data that we have now is heading in a really good direction." What they're saying In downtown Silver Spring Friday, reactions were mixed. "I take my daughter to the playground over here. It's dropped," said Dawit Mengistu, explaining that he has noticed the drop in crime. Others, including Milford Rebbo, said they're not so sure. "I don't see it, but I wish for the best," he told FOX 5. "I want better to come."
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Yahoo
Montgomery County PD expands drone program to Bethesda
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. () — On Wednesday, Montgomery County leaders and the Montgomery County Department of Police announced that it is expanding its Drone as First Responder Program (DFR) to Bethesda. The program first launched in Montgomery County in November 2023. Since then, the drones have completed over 2,000 flights and operate in the downtown Silver Spring, Wheaton/Glenmont, and Gaithersburg/Montgomery Village areas. 'I'm thrilled about the long-awaited expansion of the Drone as First Responder Program in Bethesda, which will help us leverage technology to reduce response times and improve public safety,' said Councilmember Andrew Friedson, who represents Bethesda. PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Montgomery County PD drone program completes 1,000 flights, improves response times Since its induction, the DFR has improved emergency response efforts and assisted law enforcement. The drone's average response time is under 90 seconds, but officials noted that drones typically reach the scene in under 60 seconds. Data from DFR's dashboard reflected that the drones were mostly deployed in theft and robbery cases. The second-highest number of calls were for suspicious people or vehicles. According to Montgomery County, they have also been used to help locate crime suspects, people experiencing mental health crises and missing persons. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich emphasized that the program was part of ongoing efforts to leverage technology and make operations more effective. 'The Drone as First Responder Program represents one of our largest and smartest investments in utilizing technologies to keep our communities safer and our police and first responders safer,' said Elrich. According to Montgomery County, in 2024, overall crime dropped across the county by 7%, but the number of homicides and carjackings showed the largest drop. Late last year, officials noted that a conviction was secured because of evidence obtained from a drone camera. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
