Mayor Adams, Interim Police Commissioner Donlon Announce 'Drone as First Responder' Program to Reduce Response Times and Keep New Yorkers Safe

November 13, 2024

Video available at: https://youtu.be/TrBjDTcYxjc

Department’s First 24/7 Formalized Drone Unit Will Immediately Deploy  Aerial Autonomous Vehicles to Incident Locations and Provide Critical Information to On-the-Ground Response Teams  

NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Police Department (NYPD) Interim Commissioner Tom Donlon today announced the “Drone as First Responder” (DFR) program, which leverages the latest in aerial autonomous vehicle technology to enhance the NYPD’s emergency-response capabilities as the agency fulfills its mission to keep New Yorkers safe. The DFR program is now operational in five commands in three boroughs, marking a successful expansion of the NYPD’s unmanned aircraft systems initiative. 

Located at the 67th, 71st, and 75th police precincts in Brooklyn; the 48th Police Precinct in the Bronx; and the Central Park Precinct in Manhattan, the 10 newest drones — two per command — will be deployed remotely and fly autonomously to the exact longitude and latitude of select priority public safety calls, including searches for missing people, alerts from the ShotSpotter gunshot detection system, incidents of robberies and grand larcenies, and other crimes in progress as needed. The rapid deployment of DFR drones based at station houses supplements the NYPD’s in-person patrol response to 911 calls by supplying high-definition audio and video that is accessible, in real time, on officers and supervisors’ department-issued smartphones. 

“New York City is flying into the future as we keep New Yorkers safe,” said Mayor Adams. “While the ‘Drone as First Responder’ program is what precision policing in the 21st century looks like, drone potential is really just taking off. We are leveraging the latest technology to enhance the NYPD’s emergency-response capabilities, remotely sending drones to the exact longitude and latitude of where an emergency call comes and sometimes in as little as a minute. These drones will mean more efficient policing and will help increase the safety of our responding NYPD officers and New Yorkers.”   

“When New Yorkers need help, our first responders are always there as quickly as possible to ensure their safety,” said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Chauncey Parker. “This program adds a powerful tool to our toolkit, enabling police to respond faster and with more accurate information. By using technology to improve efficiency and services, we’re helping those who protect us do their jobs better when every second counts and we’re making our communities even more safe.” 

“We are at the forefront of these exciting innovations today, and we must always keep seeking out the benefits of new and improving technology,” said NYPD Interim Commissioner Donlon. “Our DFR program is part of this evolution. It enables our highly trained officers to be even more responsive to the people we serve, and to carry out the NYPD’s critical work in ways that are increasingly effective, efficient, and safe for everyone.” 

The DFR initiative is one aspect of the NYPD’s larger drone program that, since late-2018, has deployed drones directly from the hands of on-site operators to perform various tasks: recreating floor plans with 360-degree views and searching collapsed structures, facilitating two-way communication with barricaded individuals, tracking fleeing crime suspects, documenting collision and crime scenes, conducting evidence searches, assisting with warrant executions, helping to effect rescues during storms, and monitoring shark activity off city beaches. NYPD drones were also used to inspect the structural integrity of buildings and bridges following the region’s 4.8-magnitude earthquake earlier this year. Additionally, the technology can potentially be used to drop flotation devices to swimmers in distress and deliver vital first-aid equipment — such as automated external defibrillators, tourniquets, and naloxone (a nasal spray that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose) — to bystanders at emergency scenes. 

The key aspects of the NYPD’s DFR program are:   

• Rapid deployment — Drones are quickly dispatched to incident locations, reaching many areas faster than emergency vehicles on the street and officers on foot. 
• Enhanced situational awareness — Live video provides early awareness of potential threats to law enforcement personnel. Comprehensive aerial views also allow first responders to assess crime scenes, measure crowd sizes, and strategize how to best manage vehicle and pedestrian traffic situations. 
• Improved first responder safety — By identifying potential hazards before officers arrive on scenes, safety is exponentially increased for first responders and the public. 
• New search-and-rescue capabilities — Drones equipped with night-vision and thermal-imaging cameras can greatly assist in locating missing people or criminal suspects, especially across challenging terrain or in low-light conditions. 
• Evidence collection — High-resolution cameras can capture detailed imagery for the purposes of investigation and documentation. 
• Hazardous material incidents — Drones can be used to assess potentially dangerous situations without putting human first responders at immediate, undue risk. 
• Natural disaster response — In the aftermath of hurricanes, floods, or earthquakes, drones can quickly survey large areas to prioritize response efforts. 
• Transparency — Footage from drones can provide clear, objective evidence of actions taken during incidents and events. 
• Cost-effectiveness — Drones are significantly less expensive to operate than helicopters, which can be prioritized for other emergency responses. 

Every DFR flight is commanded and monitored by an NYPD officer certified as a drone pilot by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). DFR pilots are situated at the Joint Operations Center at police headquarters in lower Manhattan or at one of the department’s off-site Technical Assistance and Response Unit (TARU) stations. Pilots remotely control the drones on a computer screen that displays a live feed, enabling them to make initial scene assessments and quickly broadcast over police radios detailed descriptions of suspects and other timely information considered valuable to central dispatchers and arriving patrol officers. Each DFR mission is additionally monitored in real time by a member of the NYPD’s Legal Bureau. 

With the launch of the DFR program, the NYPD now has 100 drones of various sizes and capabilities, and more than 110 FAA-qualified drone operators. NYPD drones have been dispatched on more than 4,000 missions in the past year, including approximately 2,300 priority calls for service. Recorded footage is deleted after 30 days, unless it is to be used to investigate a crime, captures an arrest, or other evidence that must be preserved to assist in a prosecution. 

“This is now part of our crime-fighting apparatus, and it is truly a game changer,” said NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry. “It is an exciting approach to emergency response that increases our operational efficiency while making everyone much safer. These strategic advantages are the future of policing in New York City and the nation.” 

“The ‘Drone as First Responder’ program is an important step in enhancing public safety in our parks, ensuring that all New Yorkers feel secure while enjoying our green spaces,” said New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “This innovation not only strengthens our emergency response capabilities, but also enriches the overall park experience, allowing families to focus on what truly matters — creating lasting memories at one of the most famed parks across the world.”

“The launch of the ‘Drone as First Responder’ program marks a groundbreaking advancement in public safety and emergency response,” said New York State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud, chair, Committee on Social Services. “By integrating cutting-edge drone technology with law enforcement, we are strengthening the ability to protect and serve our communities like never before.” 

“I welcome the ‘Drone as First Responder’ program as an innovative and vital supplement for NYPD Officers to drastically improve response times during crucial public safety incidents,” said New York State Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn. “As we work to make New Yorkers safer, NYPD’s DFRs are being immediately deployed by officers to help save lives while they rush to the scene; rapidly providing first responders critical information during potential shootings, searches for missing persons, and other incidents where every second matters. I thank Mayor Adams and NYPD Interim Commissioner Donlon, as I work closely with the mayor’s administration to keep improving public safety for all while ensuring our rights remain protected.”  

“The DFR program reflects our commitment to efficient, cost-effective service delivery utilizing the latest technology,” said New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar. “Five NYPD commands will now have the power to deploy drones to serve as aerial agents of safety, collecting vital data to solve cases. It is a wise use of taxpayer dollars and city resources, freeing up law enforcement to engage in other public safety work and saving millions in overtime. This builds upon our success using drones to interdict dozens of subway surfers before tragedy strikes. I am proud to support this cutting-edge use of drones, authoring legislation in Albany to ensure we only procure ones without cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Together, we will make our airspace a new front in our work to keep all New Yorkers safe.” 

“Ensuring that Central Park remains an accessible and welcoming refuge for every visitor is the Conservancy’s highest priority, and that’s an enormous challenge across 843 acres of diverse woodlands, lawns and other landscapes,” said Betsy Smith, president and chief executive officer, Central Park Conservancy. “We commend the NYPD for investing in new technologies to help improve how they respond to emergencies and the agency’s commitment to keeping the park safe for more than 42 million annual users.” 

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