Redmond Police expand DFR program with new docking stations
Redmond Police Department (RPD), in the US state of Washington, has announced that it will expand its drone-as-first-responder (DFR) program
Police in Redmond, Washington, will work with drone manufacturers Brinc and Skydio to install new drone docking stations across the city – two from the former, and three from the latter.
The new docking stations are intended to improve emergency response times and coverage, as well as reducing downtime for drones during recharging periods.
The announcement follows RPD’s receipt of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for the use of drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) last month.
The Redmond Police Department has been using drones for patrols since 2019. In April 2024, the department launched its DFR program with a drone flown remotely for dispatched calls.
“Our top priority is ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the Redmond community, and these partnerships represent a transformative step forward in how we respond to emergencies,” said Darrell Lowe, Police Chief at RPD.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at AirMed&Rescue. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.