Located in Central New York, within Onondaga County, the city of Syracuse has a population of 148,620, making it the fifth most populous city in the state. The responsibility of protecting the community across the city’s 25.64 square miles falls to the Syracuse Police Department (SPD). Currently led by Chief Joseph L. Cecile, the department employs 400 sworn officers and 100 civilian personnel.

With a solid officer-to-resident ratio, the SPD is comparable to other similarly sized police departments across the country. However, one area where the department had lagged behind was the adoption of critical 21st-century policing tools, such as drones.

In April 2025, the SPD addressed this gap by implementing a drone program. Chief Cecile had appealed to the city board in November 2024, requesting funding to launch the program. While many cities are eager to adopt drone technology for law enforcement and emergency response, the SPD initially faced opposition due to concerns about civilian privacy and civil liberties. However, as demonstrated by over a thousand police departments across the United States, drones can be powerful tools for law enforcement while still safeguarding the privacy of the individuals they serve.

The city’s Surveillance Technology Working Group conducted a thorough review, including polling Syracuse residents, which ultimately led to the approval of the drone program. Initially, the SPD planned to use drones only for high-priority calls, such as burglary or shooting incidents, where drones would provide officers with situational awareness through real-time video feeds. After additional research and funding approval, however, the department expanded the program into a more comprehensive initiative called the Drone as First Responder (DFR) program.

With a combination of city funds and a state grant, the SPD secured $619,000 for the DFR program. This funding will enable the department to purchase five drone systems and provide officers with the necessary training to become certified drone operators under the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Part 107 regulations. Additionally, the drones will be manufactured in the United States, a decision that, although more costly, aligns with future industry initiatives and strengthens the local economy.

Although the SPD has not specified which exact drone systems they are using, it appears they are opting for drones like BRINC’s Responder or Lemur 2, which are compatible with remotely located stations. The SPD explained that, through the DFR program, drones will be dispatched to respond to 911 calls before officers arrive on scene, a feature that aligns with the capabilities of BRINC’s systems.

The department plans to station these drones in key locations across the city’s North Side and South Side. While presenting the DFR program to city lawmakers, some expressed reservations. For example, Councilor Corey Williams raised concerns that sending a drone to respond to all 911 calls, not just high-priority ones, might be excessive. Police Sergeant Jason Wells addressed these concerns by explaining that many 911 calls do not require an officer’s immediate presence, and in many cases, callers experience long wait times for an officer’s arrival.

The DFR program, he said, would allow the SPD to efficiently respond to these calls, enabling officers to better allocate their resources. “We can go and take care of a few lower priority calls to then allow the officers to work more efficiently, and more quickly respond to more dangerous calls,” he said. “This is just another tool for us.”

Shortly after the DFR program was implemented, Chief Joseph L. Cecile announced that he would retire, stepping down on December 31, 2025, after over 40 years of service with the SPD. The city will also elect a new mayor in November 2025, who will be responsible for appointing the next police chief. Whoever takes over, whether from within the department or through an external hire, will inherit a police department that is now equipped with cutting-edge drone technology, positioning the SPD among the most advanced law enforcement agencies in the country.

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