1,454 total flights. 461 avoided dispatches. 262 objects located. 81 drone-assisted arrests.
When an incident occurs, seconds matter. Instead of sending multiple officers into an unknown situation, a drone is already in the air and has eyes on the scene before the first patrol car even arrives. This is what the Schenectady Police Department is doing every day.
Through their Drone as First Responder (DFR) program powered by BRINC, the Schenectady Police Department has transformed how they protect their community, and the results speak for themselves: faster response times, smarter resource use, safer arrests and better outcomes for everyone involved.
One of the most powerful features a drone can provide is perspective. At roughly 200 feet above the ground, a drone can allow officers to observe a scene in real time, giving live footage to responders not yet on scene. This real-time information changes how officers respond and how safely they can do it.
For the Schenectady Police Department, this had made a significant impact on many situations, from high-stakes arrests to routine call verification.
After a shooting, a suspect fled the scene on a motorcycle. A situation like this could involve officers entering a high-risk pursuit. Now, instead of a potentially dangerous chase, the drone took over. It followed the suspect to a second location and stayed overhead as he fled on foot. Officers moved in with a clear picture of exactly where he was. The arrest was made and the drone footage later supported search warrant applications, giving the case a strong evidentiary foundation.
A suspect connected to school burglaries was believed to be at a residential address. Rather than approaching the property blindly, the drone was deployed first. The 200-foot aerial view saw what ground-level observation could have missed–the suspect hiding under the porch. With that information, officers could approach safely, knowing the suspect’s location and the arrest was made safely.
The value of the DFR program extends beyond major incidents. The Schenectady Police Department has been using the drone program in everyday operations.
The Schenectady Police Department has been transparent about its use of drone technology. Residents are familiar with how cameras help solve crimes and hold people accountable, as the city already has a strong video security network.
The drone program fits naturally into that context–adding mobility and further reach to a framework the community already understands and trusts. That trust is key. Drone footage has become an important tool in court, where video evidence is no longer a nice-to-have but a need-to-have. Drone footage combined with body camera and fixed camera footage creates a more complete and credible picture of any incident.
What the Schenectady Police Department has built is more than a technology program. It is a fresh approach to public safety operations–one that prioritizes information, officer safety and safe response.
When agencies have eyes in the air before boots are on the ground, they make better, more-informed decisions. They approach suspects with confidence, protect officers from walking into unknown danger, verify before they escalate and produce evidence that holds up.
The Schenectady Police Department is an embodiment of what is possible when technology and policing work together. Every arrest made safely, unnecessary dispatch avoided, case strengthened represents the program’s value, not just to the department but for the community they serve.
That is what forward-thinking public safety looks like. And it’s already here.