The city of Blue Springs, near Kansas City, will soon be using drones as first responders.
Police Chief Bob Muenz said it will help them get eyes on the scene faster.
“To get there before the officers can get there,” he told Missourinet. “Our officer response time is anywhere from four to five minutes to an emergency call, depending on where they’re at, what they’re doing, etc. That drone can be on scene anywhere from 90 seconds to two minutes.”
Blue Springs police have been using drones for several years for search and rescue and “tactical” situations, but not as first responders.
“So when the emergency call comes in, the drone (will launch) from the Police Department,” Muenz said. “The pilot is piloting that drone from the Real Time Crime Center. The software tells it where to go. It flies directly to the crime in progress or the accident scene or the structure fire, whatever it may be.”
He also said that drones arriving first can help prepare and protect police officers.
“So we can say the suspect (is) still at the scene,” Muenz said. “They can see what vehicles are involved, they will fly over the scene and say, ‘hey, there’s flames showing from the structure on whatever side,’ or ‘there’s smoke coming from here,’ or, ‘there is an accident in the intersection. And it looks like a bad one.’ They’ll be able to tell.”
He added that their goal is to have the first responder drones operational in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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