Drone as a First Responder
The CSPD Drone as First Responder Program is a brand new, emerging technology program being utilized by public safety agencies across the country. CSPD's program allows for a drone to be dispatched to certain types of calls in order to gain more information for possible responding officers. The information gathered by the drone will help dispatchers in the public safety communication center know the size of the emergency response that is needed and communicate that information to responding officers. Dispatchers can also relay any information that may be available about victim or suspect locations, or even cancel a call before an officer arrives if an emergency is not taking place. By utilizing drones to gather more information, patrol resources can be dispatched more efficiently to the most emergent of calls within our community, lowering response times and increasing safety.
The drones used in the Drone as First Responder program are launched from static, strategically placed sites across the city and remotely operated by FAA-certified drone operators in the Real Time Crime Center. These drones can then respond to calls within a certain mile radius of their launch point, assisting detectives and analysts with getting real-time information to officers on the ground.
See below for a map of CSPD Drone as First Responder launch locations.
Mobile Response Drones
The Colorado Springs Police Department also utilizes Mobile Response Drones to assist with various calls for service and operations. While the drones used in the DFR program are launched from permanent locations throughout town, the Mobile Response Drones are small enough to fit inside the back of a vehicle and can by launched anywhere in the city. A Mobile Response Drone may be used on a tactical operation, assistance with a patrol response out of range for the DFR drone and more. A certified operator will drive to the location of the call for service and launch the drone from a safe place nearby.
These drones are also able to assist with officer safety issues. They provide an eye-in-the-sky view of the call for service or operation going on, and are also small enough to fly into a residence or enclosed space.
CSFD Drones
The CSFD Special Operations Unit uses three drones (two operational and one back up) to assist incident command and firefighters on a variety of scenes, including, but not limited to:
- missing hikers/climbers
- high angle rescues
- smoke investigation
- structure fires
- wildfires and swift water rescues
The Special Operations Unit launched in August 2023.
The Special Operations Unit's drones are equipped with GPS, infrared cameras, speakers and will soon include a payload system. The Special Operations Unit is able to use these drones to locate smoke or a missing hiker from an aerial view and give direct incident coordinates to firefighters, significantly reducing the time for crews to mobilize and mitigate issues. Infrared technology enables firefighters to see through smoke in structure fires, allowing for more precise decision-making for firefighters and homeowners.
Technology Policy and Procedures
All technology CSPD uses is strictly governed by federal, state, and local laws, and all systems are used in a manner that is constitutionally sound. Additionally, the City and CSPD have several policies in place to regulate the use of technology. All systems track use and are auditable. See below for a list of specific policies related to CSPD technology use.
- 1501-12 Automated License Plate Reader System
- GO 1535 Unmanned Aerial System
- GO 1092 Real Time Crime Center
- GO 1082 Public Safety Camera System
- GO 1904 Use of Specialized Axon Systems
- GO 1905 Use of Artificial Intelligence
- GO 1612 Records Security
Drone Flight Tracking
All CSPD drone operations are done within FAA regulations and each operator is Part 107 certified. Each flight is logged and the path is viewable to the public.