Colorado law enforcement testing drones for 911 response, emergency situations

The Arapahoe County Sheriff's office is testing using drones to help with some of their police work.

The agency’s drone team now features 14 different pilots, all certified to fly by the Federal Aviation Administration. Each deputy carries a small drone in their patrol vehicle, allowing them to launch in a moment’s notice.

Last year, they responded to more than 70 calls, the highest on record since they launched the drone team in 2017. One new advancement is the ability to enter buildings and fly around inside, while monitoring what the drone is seeing from a video feed outside the building. That allows them to search a building for a subject without putting K-9 units or deputies in harm’s way.

They are also in the early stages of testing out a potential task force that would send drones to certain 911 calls before deputies can make it to the scene. The idea, called Drone as First Responder, is being used in a handful of police departments nationwide.

Read more:
Colorado Sheriff’s office testing out potential drone 911 response: https://www.9news.com/article/tech/co...
Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office testing indoor drone use for emergency situations: https://www.9news.com/article/tech/co...

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