Latest news with #SkydioX10
Los Angeles Times
4 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
To boost police response times, Huntington Beach looks to the skies
The Huntington Beach Police Department typically takes about five minutes to get to a crime scene or emergency situation. Drones will soon cut that time to two minutes or less. The department is expected to launch its Drone as First Responder program on Sept. 13, officials said during a news conference and demonstration Tuesday at the Lake Street Fire Station. Three Skydio X10 drones will be docked on rooftops at strategic locations around the city, including a location near the Bella Terra outdoor mall and one near City Hall, said police Lt. Chris Nesmith. Nesmith, who manages the department's drone program, said each drone has a 2-mile radius. Eventually, the department hopes the whole city will be covered. Drone as First Responder programs have been launching statewide. Large cities such as New York, Chicago and Oklahoma City have started similar programs. 'What we're going to be able to do for the officers on the ground is a huge thing,' Nesmith said. 'You have no idea what you're driving into. This is going to give you a bird's-eye view before you're even on the scene. The officers can watch on monitors while they're en route to the call [to see] what's happening at the call before they get there.' The drones will be controlled remotely from the department's real-time crime center using an Xbox controller, said Det. Taylor Davoren, a Drone as First Responder pilot. The department has 17 officers who will operate the drones, having passed the Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 commercial exam and completed specialized Beyond Visual Line of Sight certification. 'One of the biggest advantages of this program is how quickly we can get on scene to support investigations and prosecutions,' Davoren said. 'In most cases, suspect or vehicle descriptions are critical, but if it takes an officer five minutes to arrive, those details might be gone. With drones, we can often be there in under two minutes and start recording immediately, which will be extremely helpful for these investigations. 'That means we're capturing key details — who was there? How many people were there? What vehicles were they driving? — evidence that has been left behind. This not only helps in making arrests, but building stronger cases that can lead to successful prosecutions.' The program is funded for multiple years for about $120,000 annually, Huntington Beach spokesman Corbin Carson said. That includes equipment, installation, training and ongoing support. Nesmith said Huntington Beach police partnered with Skydio, an American company, due to a possible ban on Chinese drones. He also emphasized that the Drone as First Responder program is not a surveillance program. 'This isn't a 'Big Brother' program, this is a public safety law enforcement program that will be reactive only for calls for service,' he said. The department has been using drone technology since 2018, but previously the drone would have to be taken to a site by an officer and set up. Huntington Beach Mayor Pat Burns, a former pilot for the Long Beach Police Department, said he was enthusiastic about the program. 'Big perimeters take hours sometimes,' Burns said. 'If there's not an eye in the sky, if that helicopter with night vision is not available, sometimes those perimeters can be a nightmare demand on personnel and keeping that perimeter contained. With that eye in the sky, within minutes at times, you can nail that person. The perimeter is broken down and [officers] can go back to doing what they do, serving the people on the streets.' Szabo writes for Times Community News.
Los Angeles Times
4 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
Huntington Beach Police Department readies Drone as First Responder program
The Huntington Beach Police Department typically takes about five minutes to get to a crime scene or emergency situation. Drones will soon cut that time to two minutes or less. The department is expected to launch its Drone as First Responder program on Sept. 13, officials said during a press conference and demonstration Tuesday at the Lake Street Fire Station. Three Skydio X10 drones will be docked on rooftops at strategic locations around the city, also including a location near Bella Terra outdoor mall and one near Huntington Beach City Hall, said police Lt. Chris Nesmith. Nesmith, who manages the department's drone program, said each drone has a 2-mile radius. Eventually, the department is hopeful the whole city will be covered. DFP programs have been launching statewide. Large cities such as New York, Chicago and Oklahoma City have started similar programs. 'What we're going to be able to do for the officers on the ground is a huge thing,' Nesmith said. 'You have no idea what you're driving into. This is going to give you a bird's-eye view before you're even on the scene. The officers can watch on monitors while they're en route to the call [to see] what's happening at the call before they get there.' The drones will be controlled remotely from the department's real-time crime center using an Xbox controller, said HBPD Detective Taylor Davoren, a Drone as First Responder pilot. The department has 17 officers who will operate the drones, having passed the FAA Part 107 commercial exam and completed specialized Beyond Visual Line of Sight certification. 'One of the biggest advantages of this program is how quickly we can get on scene to support investigations and prosecutions,' Davoren said. 'In most cases, suspect or vehicle descriptions are critical, but if it takes an officer five minutes to arrive, those details might be gone. With drones, we can often be there in under two minutes and start recording immediately, which will be extremely helpful for these investigations. 'That means we're capturing key details — who was there? How many people were there? What vehicles were they driving? — evidence that has been left behind. This not only helps in making arrests, but building stronger cases that can lead to successful prosecutions.' The program is funded for multiple years for about $120,000 annually, Huntington Beach spokesman Corbin Carson said. That includes equipment, installation, training and ongoing support. Nesmith said the HBPD partnered with Skydio, an American company, due to a possible ban on Chinese drones. He also emphasized that the DFP program is not a surveillance program. 'This isn't a Big Brother program, this is a public safety law enforcement program that will be reactive only for calls for service,' he said. The department has been using drone technology since 2018, but previously the drone would have to be taken to a site by an officer and set up. Huntington Beach Mayor Pat Burns, a former pilot for the Long Beach Police Department, said he was enthusiastic about the program. 'Big perimeters take hours sometimes,' Burns said. 'If there's not an eye in the sky, if that helicopter with night vision is not available, sometimes those perimeters can be a nightmare demand on personnel and keeping that perimeter contained. With that eye in the sky, within minutes at times, you can nail that person. The perimeter is broken down and [officers] can go back to doing what they do, serving the people on the streets.'
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Miami Beach police deploy drones to keep an eye on spring break crowds
MIAMI (WFLA) — Miami Beach police are taking to the skies to crack down on rowdy spring break crowds. The new airborne first responder, the Skydio X10 drone, is the first of its kind in Florida, according to a report from NBC affiliate WTVJ. Police said the drone can give them a bird's eye view of anywhere in the city within a minute of launching. Massive great white shark pings off Florida coast 'Provides data in real time so we can use data to make key decisions in the field for our police officers,' police chief Wayne Jones said. The new drone is just one of the tools police use to keep an eye on things in their new 'Real Time Intelligence Center,' along with over 800 cameras mounted across the city. Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner said the city gives police 'the best technology' to respond to potential issues as thousands of spring breakers descend on South Florida. 'We are setting the tone of law and order. People are looking at us as to how to accomplish safety, reduce crime, crack down on spring break, and the timing is perfect as we approach spring break to roll out these initiatives,' Meiner said. 'My goal is to make Miami Beach the safest city in America and we're on our way.' This comes as city leaders launched a campaign to announce they were 'breaking up with spring break' after years of chaos and violence during the season, which police have largely attributed to people from outside the area coming in to cause trouble. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Yahoo
Frederick County Sheriff's Office launches drone program
FREDERICK COUNTY, Md. () — The Frederick County Sheriff's Office (FCSO) launched a new drone program aimed at enhancing public safety in the county, officials announced Wednesday. The Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) program began in the fall of 2023, with the first units arriving in June 2024. Patrol deputies now operate three Skydio X10 drones when deployment is requested in response to an incident. 'The decision to use drones in law enforcement is driven by their efficiency, affordability, and safety benefits,' the FCSO stated in a news release. Council Chair Jolene Ivey drops out of Prince George's County Executive race Drones are able to cover large areas, which helps in search-and-rescue efforts, public event monitoring and disaster surveys. The department said real-time aerial footage leads to faster decision-making, leading to quicker responses and better outcomes. Cheaper to operate and maintain than helicopters and equipped with thermal imaging and high-resolution cameras, drones are able to enhance the FCSO's operational capabilities at a minimal cost. They also improve deputy safety by reducing their exposure to dangerous situations, such as hazardous material assessments or suspect searches. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
12-02-2025
- CBS News
Frederick County launches police drone program
BALTIMORE -- Frederick County Sheriff's Office plans to use drone technology to improve policing with the launch of its Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) program. The office said the county now operates three Skydio X10 drones, which they deploy in response to incidents. Acting as an alternative to helicopters, drones allow police to quickly cover large areas for search and rescue efforts, public event monitoring, and disaster surveys. The drones also allow for more efficient decision-making, and are cheaper to operate and maintain, the DSCO said. The drones have both high-resolution cameras and thermal imaging capabilities. By using drones, officers can also avoid exposure to dangerous situations, including hazardous materials assessments, and suspect searches. Police in Maryland implement drone technology Frederick County isn't the first jurisdiction to use drone technology in law enforcement. In November 2024 Harford County Police used a drone to track down two teens accused of a string of vehicle thefts. Around 4:21 a.m. on Nov. 25, officers responded to Deep Well Court in Abingdon, where they learned that 21 vehicles had been rummaged through. Later, around 4:47 a.m., police were dispatched to Doncaster Road in Joppa for more theft reports. Witnesses told police they saw two suspects entering a black pickup truck, which police later spotted, initiating a pursuit. The suspects took the vehicle off-road before abandoning it and attempting to flee, but police used a drone to search the area and locate the suspects hiding in a densely wooded area. In April 2024, Howard County used a drone with thermal imaging to track down a teen suspect who stole a vehicle. In October 2023, Baltimore City launched its police drone program.
