The Boston Police Department (BPD) is launching a Drone as First Responder (DFR) pilot program with Motorola Solutions and BRINC that adds new capabilities to Boston’s emergency response. As part of this pilot program, an internal team of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified pilots, who are members of the BPD, will operate drones and launch sites across Boston to assess its value as a tool to improve safety for residents and first responders.
The DFR system enables a drone to launch within seconds of a 911 call, or a ShotSpotter activation, and arrive on scene quickly, outpacing ground units navigating Boston traffic. The drones give dispatchers and responding officers a clear view of unfolding events so they can assess them more accurately and make an informed decision about the response. The rollout of the program will begin this weekend.
“We are always looking for better ways to serve and protect the people of Boston, to make sure that when someone dials 911, help arrives as fast as possible,” said Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox. “By putting eyes on a scene in as little as a minute, our 911 dispatch center can activate the needed resources to help our officers approach a fluid, often dangerous situation in the safest way possible for those we serve, as well as for our first responders.”
As part of this pilot, the Boston Police Department will work with Motorola Solutions and BRINC to utilize Responder drones and weatherproof docking stations. Built for public safety, the drones have clear BPD markings, sirens, and emergency lights. The drones have features that can be used in a number of time-sensitive situations, including to help find missing children and vulnerable adults.
Privacy guardrails are built into the program. While a drone flies to a scene, its cameras will face forward toward the horizon. Cameras tilt downward once the drone arrives at the emergency location. Throughout the pilot program, key statistics will be reported on BPDnews.com.