The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) is rolling out a major upgrade to its nationally recognized Drone as First Responder (DFR) program, replacing its current drone fleet with a next-generation, dock-based system designed to expand coverage, improve response times, and increase operational efficiency.
The upgraded program will feature dock-based Skydio drone systems deployed at six locations across Montgomery County. Each site will include two drone docks, allowing MCPD to launch multiple drones simultaneously and maintain operations if one system is unavailable.
In coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration and other federal partners, MCPD will operate the drones beyond visual line of sight without requiring a rooftop observer. The department says this advancement will allow drones to respond more quickly, cover a larger area from each launch site, and operate for longer periods.
All drones will be remotely piloted from the County’s Joint Operations Center at Public Safety Headquarters, providing centralized coordination and real-time operational support.
The rollout is taking place in phases. Phase 1 is now operational and includes Downtown Silver Spring, White Oak, the Gaithersburg/Montgomery Village area, and Germantown. MCPD expects to complete the transition in the Wheaton and Bethesda areas later this summer.
Police emphasized that privacy protections remain a key part of the program. The department said drones are used only to respond to 911 calls for service or assist officers already on scene. They are not equipped with facial recognition technology or microphones. Additionally, drone cameras are pointed toward the horizon while traveling to and from calls to minimize unnecessary recording.
MCPD also said it will continue its transparency efforts by publicly documenting every Drone as First Responder deployment, including the flight location and reason for the response, through its public Drone as First Responder Dashboard.
According to the department, the upgraded system represents the next evolution of the program and is intended to enhance the county’s ability to provide timely, efficient, and accountable public safety services.
