Last month’s launch of Port St. Lucie Police Department’s Drone as First Responder (DFR) program turned out to be a productive endeavor, with 17 missions carried out the first day including the successful location of a missing autistic female who was found safe before potentially entering a nearby canal.
The drone was deployed remotely and arrived at the scene ahead of responding officers. It quickly located the female and directed the officers to her exact location, avoiding a dangerous situation. She was safely reunited with her family.
“This program is about saving lives, and on day one, that’s exactly what it helped us to do,” said PSL Police Chief Leo Niemcyzk. “The successful location of a vulnerable autistic female near a canal before officers arrived demonstrates the tremendous value this technology brings to our community. This is more than a drone program, it’s a public safety tool that allows us to respond faster, gather critical information and make better decisions when seconds matter.”
On that first day of testing, the DFR drones also responded to a burglary in progress, providing an aerial view while the officers approached and cleared the residence. During a domestic violence investigation, the drone located the suspect in a backyard before officers arrived. There were also multiple disturbances involving groups of juveniles. Thanks to the drones, officers were able to assess the situations first, then coordinate their response.
At this time three docks are installed and active as part of the program’s testing and evaluation phase, but once the drone program is fully operational there will be six strategically placed drone docks throughout the city.
The average flight time for each drone is between 25 to 35 minutes depending on factors such as weather conditions.
There are numerous examples of situations that would prompt the use of the drones, including active threats, burglaries, robberies, shootings, kidnappings, barricaded subjects, school-related emergencies, felony traffic stops and fleeing suspects. The list goes on, with the drones available to assist with locating missing adults or children, with hazardous materials incidents, structure and brush fires, as well as motor vehicle crashes and traffic monitoring.
“Technology will never replace our officers,” Niemczyk added. “But when technology allows us to locate a vulnerable person faster, improve officer safety and provide better service to our residents, it’s an investment worth making. Day one proved exactly why this program matters.”
The DFR program uses drones that are directly integrated with the dispatch system. When emergency calls come in, trained personnel deploy the drones from the police department. The drones often have a visual of the scene before the officers arrive, reaching the site within seconds. The longest travel time in each coverage area is about four minutes.
“The PSLPD remains committed to leveraging innovative technology to enhance public safety and better serve the residents of Port St. Lucie,” reads a press release issued about the new program.