CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (KDVR) — The Castle Rock Police Department is taking its patrol to new heights.
The agency just launched a “Drone as First Responder Program,” allowing officers to see what’s happening before they arrive on scene.
From stolen cars to dangerous suspects to missing persons, officers say they have a new way to respond faster. Drones can now launch on their own, reaching emergencies in less than two minutes.
“No longer will an officer have to respond to a call, get out of the car, then deploy the drone at the location … now we can actually do this from our strategic response center, our real-time crime center and have the drone there in a short time,” said Castle Rock Police Chief Jack Cauley.
The program uses an automated docking system: A high-tech hub that keeps the drone charged, weather-ready and on standby 24/7. The moment dispatch sends an alert, it’s airborne.
Cauley told FOX31 an example of how the drone helped officers track down a suspect’s vehicle tied to retail theft using alerts from the Flock Camera Systems. It all happened within minutes.
“We were able to capture the video of the suspect vehicle and then wait for the individual to come out and then make an apprehension,” said Cauley.
In the air, the drone streams live video back to dispatchers and officers, giving them a real-time look at what’s unfolding below.
Police say it’s a part of a larger network of technology linking license plate readers, cameras and the department’s real-time crime center. Together, they’re creating a faster, smarter way to respond.
“We have the ability from the sensory detection to get to an immediate response,” said
Keith Kauffman, senior director of the Drones as First Responders Strategy for Flock Safety.
“So where a response from a police vehicle could take 3-5 minutes, we’re able to do it in 30 to 90,” Kauffman added.
The program officially launched in August, and officers say it’s already making a difference.
The department has nine licensed pilots and they plan to add four more drones in the coming months to give them a total of five.
“It’s an innovation piece, this is going to help us continue to keep our communities safe,” said Cauley.
While most drones can only fly when an officer’s watching from the ground, Castle Rock’s can soar higher. CRPD is the first to fly up to 400 feet without a visual observer. It’s a move they say can redefine response times and safety in the years ahead.
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