Redmond Police Department pioneers use of drones as first responders

Drones will also be stationed in docking stations around Redmond, allowing them to arrive on scene swiftly. Since April, over 500 missions have been conducted under this program.

Chief Lowe shared a recent incident where a drone provided crucial intelligence during a standoff: "About a month ago, we had a circumstance where we had a subject that barricaded himself in an outbuilding, a shed. We were able to have the drone overhead to provide that real-time intelligence to the officers."

The Redmond PD ensures civil liberties are protected with clear policies on drone usage. Cameras remain fixed unless actively searching an area, and there are no plans for permanent surveillance or weaponization of drones.

The department will utilize law enforcement-specific drones from BRINC and Skydio. These systems include software integration with Axon Enterprise for dispatch coordination and remote operations.

To operate these drones, officers must obtain an FAA Part 107 license and undergo specialized training. Chief Lowe emphasized the importance of support for the program's success: “If you're going to go in, then you need to fully support it so that the program is successful.”

Redmond's Mayor and City Council recently showed their backing by unanimously approving contracts supporting the DFR initiative.