Drones have reshaped 21st-century police procedures by enabling rapid aerial support that enhances safety and efficiency. Once limited to costly helicopters, today’s law enforcement agencies deploy lightweight unmanned aerial vehicles to scout dangerous situations, locate missing persons, and provide real-time surveillance. Over the past two decades, drones have transitioned from experimental gadgets to standard public safety tools. In the mid-2000s, at the beginning of the drone revolution, some emergency agencies began exploring drones for search and rescue missions.By 2016, roughly 167 police and fire departments had purchased unmanned aerial vehicles, double the previous year’s total.

Police drone use expanded rapidly thereafter as the benefits of low-cost, fast-deploying UASs (Unmanned Aerial Systems) became clear. Today, it is estimated that around 1,500 police departments across the United States operate drone programs in some form. As drone technology advances while regulations are simultaneously being readjusted, this number continues to grow, highlighting how drones are becoming integral to law enforcement.

Police drones are used for a variety of important tasks. They serve as first responders in some cities, cutting response times by launching drones to emergency scenes before patrol cars arrive. Drones assist with search and rescue, helping locate missing people, especially in difficult terrain. They support crime scene mapping and evidence gathering, aerial patrols, suspect tracking, crowd monitoring, and even delivering essential supplies like Narcan or defibrillators.

Their onboard sensors, including thermal cameras, infrared, high-resolution zoom, and two-way audio, expand their capabilities. As Scottsdale Police Chief Jeff Walther explained in July 2024 when announcing the city’s integration of a DFR (Drones as a First Responder) program, “By layering in a drone as a first responder program, we add another way to empower first responders to protect lives, keep Scottsdale safe, reduce response times and drive down crime.”

Recently, in Penfield, a small community in Monroe County just east of Rochester, New York, drones were deployed alongside K9 units in the search for a nonverbal five-year-old girl who had gone missing. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, which serves Penfield and the surrounding communities, launched its drone program in 2017 with the purchase of its first unmanned aircraft under the leadership of Sheriff Todd K. Baxter. Since then, the program has grown into a fully staffed Drone Response Team equipped with 28 FAA-certified drone pilots and a fleet of 18 drones.

The department uses a mix of small and mid-sized public safety drones, including DJI Mavic models for quick deployment and maneuverability, as well as larger DJI Matrice aircraft capable of carrying high-resolution cameras, thermal imaging sensors, and zoom lenses for detailed aerial searches. This combination allows the team to respond quickly to emergencies, conduct thorough searches in challenging terrain, and support a wide range of law enforcement and rescue operations across Monroe County.

When the five-year-old nonverbal girl with autism went missing on Sunday, August 10, 2025, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office was ready with its drones. The girl was reported missing from her home on Glazer Drive, with her parents last seeing her in her room around 9 p.m. Deputies deployed drones and K9 teams to search the surrounding area. Residents were asked to check porches, sheds, and cars to see if the girl was hiding anywhere. They were also asked to check any security cameras. Just before 6 a.m. on Monday, she was found safe.

The child was found in the living room of Scott Rogers, who lives in a Penfield housing development. Mr. Rogers said he awoke Monday morning to his dogs barking. When he went to investigate, he found the girl sitting on his couch and immediately called the police. He believes his daughter, who also has autism, helped calm the girl before returning to bed herself. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office thanked the community for their assistance and, like Mr. Rogers, is grateful for the positive outcome. “I am sure that they are just happy to have their kid back at this point,” Mr. Rogers said of the girl’s parents, “and probably cherishing every minute of it.”

The use of drones by emergency responders has grown rapidly in recent years, proving their value not only to law enforcement officers but also to the communities they serve. By providing faster, safer, and more effective ways to locate missing persons and assess emergencies, drones have become essential tools in public safety. The successful search and rescue of the young girl in Penfield highlights how drone technology continues to enhance response efforts, bringing peace of mind to families and helping first responders save lives.

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