The MCPD Drone as First Responder (DFR) program deploys a drone to a 911 emergency call for service or police generated call for service. Montgomery County Police recently shared goals, statistics, and information about the program
Goals include: improving police response times, allowing MCPD to be more efficient with police resources, providing real time information to ground officers to allow for better decision making, assisting with de-escalation of incidents to enhance safety for both officers and our community and assisting with locating and apprehending criminal suspects.
The data shown below, courtesy of MCPD, is from November 2023 – March 31, 2024:
• There have been 454 DFR flights.
• The average response time is 60 seconds.
• First on the scene in 71% of DFR calls.
• 157 suspects/subjects located
• Assisted with apprehensions of auto theft and theft from auto, assaults, shoplifting, weapons, and more.