© Flock Safety – Flock Aerodome is an all-in-one, fully automated air support system that provides rapid responses to enhance the safety of communities and officers
Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs have become the latest standard for 21st-century law enforcement. These initiatives allow police departments to launch drones directly from strategically placed locations in response to emergency calls, often arriving at a scene before ground units. The drones provide real-time aerial video to dispatchers and officers, improving situational awareness, enhancing officer safety, and helping agencies allocate resources more efficiently. By serving as an immediate set of eyes in the sky, DFR programs reduce response times, de-escalate potential threats, and strengthen community trust through greater transparency.
BVLOS Is the Key to Scalable DFR
One of the keys to a DFR program is the advancement of Beyond Visual Line Of Sight (BVLOS) capabilities and regulations. BVLOS operations allow drones to fly farther than the pilot’s direct line of sight, making it possible to cover larger areas of a city and respond to calls across multiple neighborhoods. This expanded reach is essential for public safety agencies, as it ensures drones can be dispatched quickly and remain overhead for longer periods while transmitting live video back to command centers. Recent regulatory progress and ongoing pilot programs are paving the way for more agencies to secure BVLOS approvals, which will be critical for scaling DFR initiatives nationwide.
Flock Safety Targets Private Sector DFR
While DFR programs are typically reserved for law enforcement agencies, one company is hoping to change that. Flock Safety, long known for its license plate readers and community surveillance tools, recently announced a plan to enable DFR-style drone systems to become part of retail and private security infrastructures. Flock’s move into aerial systems is anchored in its acquisition of Aerodome in 2024, which gave it the foundation to build DFR systems for non-government settings.
© Flock Safety – Drone as First Responder
How Flock Aerodome Works
Under the name Flock Aerodome, the company now offers a system of docked drones, automated launch and recovery, and software integration with existing security operations. Keith Kauffman, a former police chief in Redondo Beach, California, now directs Flock’s drone program. He explained that by placing a Flock drone system on the roof of a retail space, the company could enhance existing security measures. Kauffman continued by saying that in the event of an incident, a drone can be automatically launched to track and lead to the apprehension of a suspect.
“Instead of a 911 call that triggers the drone, it’s an alarm call,” he said. “The drone follows the people. The people get in a car. You click a button, and you track the vehicle with the drone, and the drone just follows the car.”
In this sense, the drone acts as a first responder to a retail incident, feeding live video to security teams and optionally to local law enforcement.
Drone as First Responder
Flock has reported that in law enforcement deployments, its Aerodome systems can arrive at scenes in about 86 seconds on average. Because retail sites are often more compact, response times could be even faster. The system supports continuous patrols through automated charging or battery swapping and includes thermal imaging, night vision, and software that allows one operator to oversee multiple drones. Flock promotes the approach as a force multiplier that combines the responsiveness of a guard, the observation capability of a camera, and the speed of a machine.
© Flock Safety – Drone as First Responder System
Compliance and Airspace Considerations
For this private sector DFR model to succeed, regulatory approval is a critical factor. BVLOS waivers are required for operations beyond the operator’s direct line of sight, even when flights remain within the property of a retailer or shopping center. Customers must either hold these approvals themselves or work with certified partners to maintain compliance. Each deployment must also take into account local airspace restrictions, which can complicate operations near airports or other sensitive locations. Flock’s systems are designed with geofencing, strict logging, and flight tracking to ensure safety and accountability.
Where It Stands Today
Currently, Flock has only been approved to implement its civilian DFR model at one location, a tomato processing plant in California. However, as drone technology advances and regulatory measures for issues such as BVLOS continue to progress, it is likely that retail spaces will soon gain access to state-of-the-art drone security systems. What began as a tool for law enforcement is now being tested in private industry, and the success of these programs could influence how communities view drones more broadly. If systems like Flock Aerodome prove effective at reducing theft, improving safety, and cutting response times, drones may soon become a standard component of modern security infrastructure.
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