More Than a Fancy Box: An Assessment of Drone as First Responder Programs in Law Enforcement

Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs deploy unmanned aerial systems directly to calls for service, providing officers with real-time information before they arrive. This exploratory qualitative study examines DFR implementation and perceived effects at two U.S. law enforcement agencies through interviews and focus groups with agency leaders, program coordinators, patrol personnel, data analysts, and information technology staff. Participants identified rapid situational awareness as DFR’s central benefit, supporting safer tactical decisions, more efficient resource allocation, suspect apprehension, evidence collection, and case resolution. Findings also indicate that DFR programs improve cost efficiency by reducing or eliminating some in-person responses and supplementing ground units. Successful implementation depends on clear policies, stakeholder engagement, appropriate technology and pilot selection, system integration, and ongoing transparency. Because findings reflect practitioner perceptions from two agencies, further quasi-experimental and mixed-methods research is needed to quantify program effects and distinguish DFR contributions from those of other technologies and tactics.