VIDEO: Carson City Sheriff’s Office has introduced a new “Drone as First Responder” (DFR) program, deploying advanced drone technology to enhance emergency response and public safety across the community. The program, operational since last week, has already responded to six calls for service. The DFR program utilizes three drone packages, each consisting of drones and self-contained docking stations located on the sheriff’s office rooftop. These drones are remotely piloted by humans and are capable of autonomous launch, allowing them to take off without direct human contact and reach incident scenes within two to three minutes.
“Once someone calls 911 and we have an emergency reported to us we can launch the drone, get it overhead and get that information to the first responders on the ground within a timely manner,” said Brett Bindley, Carson City Sheriff’s Office Investigations Supervisor. The drones are designed for all-weather operation and are equipped with a suite of advanced features. Thermal sensors enable them to locate missing hikers or hiding suspects by detecting heat signatures, while night sensors ensure safe flight during darkness, avoiding obstacles like power lines and buildings. They also feature spotlights to illuminate areas for ground responders and loudspeakers for broadcasting public safety messages or issuing commands.
