Why Every Community Needs a DFR Program Now

This week, I want to talk about how Drones as a First Responder (DFR) programs will become the norm in local communities and why this is a positive development. Having started my career as a firefighter, paramedic, and police officer, I am familiar with public safety and emergency response systems and have seen how they have evolved over the past thirty-five years. In my view, DFR programs represent the most significant strategic shift in emergency response during my lifetime.

I was fortunate to serve as a flight paramedic for Intermountain Life Flight in Salt Lake City in the 1990s, where we flew some of the world’s most capable twin-engine high mountain rescue helicopters. With top-tier Augusta aircraft, a pilot, a flight nurse, and a flight paramedic, we provided care to patients with life-threatening injuries or illnesses across Utah and into Wyoming, Idaho, and Nevada. Back then, there were two helicopter bases, yet today, Intermountain Health has expanded to more than twenty bases across eight states. Even with this growth, there will never be enough air assets for public safety that fit within local government budgets. DFR programs, however, hold the promise of expanding coverage dramatically, with potentially one hundred times more bases and aircraft. These programs will respond to thousands of additional calls every year but with a different focus and at much lower costs.

Nearly every community in the United States now has some form of public safety Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS), commonly known as a drone program. However, most have yet to transition to true DFR programs with the operational capacity to send a drone equipped with cameras, audio, and various sensors or equipment to every critical 911 call within their jurisdiction.

To put this capability into perspective, imagine an emergency call reporting multiple gunshots in a residential neighborhood. Typically, such an incident would demand a substantial police and emergency response. In a community with a 24/7 DFR program, the nearest rooftop helipad with a DFR-capable drone would be remotely dispatched as soon as the 911 call is received. The drone could arrive at the scene in just 30 to 90 seconds, well before police officers driving from their stations. The drone would likely encounter one of two typical scenarios. In the first and most probable case, it might find children playing with fireworks, allowing responders to downgrade from a dangerous, high-priority response to simply sending a community services officer to handle the situation calmly. In the less common but more serious scenario of an active shooter, the drone would record live video, helping law enforcement safely coordinate an arrest. In both outcomes, the safety of the community and responders improves significantly.

During my years as a first responder, automobile accidents were among the most frequent calls. It was frustrating to receive information that was often slow, outdated, or inaccurate. We might be told there were five cars involved, only to find a single-vehicle rollover with several bystanders. A call might be dispatched as critical injuries with multiple patients, and it could turn out to be a non-injury event. This inefficiency matters to local governments because, for decades, the default has been to prepare for the worst-case scenario, dispatching multiple police officers, fire engines, ambulances, and other equipment—often unnecessarily. With a well-equipped DFR program, the drone can reach the scene in 30 to 90 seconds and provide real-time situational awareness. Dispatchers, commanders, and first responders can then make informed decisions and send the appropriate resources, thanks to accurate and immediate information.

DFR programs are poised to permanently change the way we dispatch resources. They will allow communities to use precious first responder assets more efficiently, enhance safety, and improve effectiveness for citizens in need. These advancements are likely to encourage the consolidation of separate police, fire, and EMS dispatch and communication centers, as it becomes more logical to share DFR programs and real-time data. They will also drive technology integration between DFR programs and emergency response software vendors. Just this week, Versaterm, a public safety software company, acquired DFR provider DroneSense for more than $100 million. Versaterm specializes in computer-aided dispatch and records management systems for public safety and recognizes how dramatically DFR programs will influence future emergency response.

Over the past year, Flock Safety, a provider of real-time public safety data and intelligence, purchased Aerodome, another DFR provider, for over $300 million. Aerodome was only a seventeen-month-old startup at the time. Within the traditionally slow-moving world of public safety technology, these rapid and valuable acquisitions suggest that more consolidation and growth are likely on the horizon.

SkyfireAI, where I serve on the board, has developed artificial intelligence software for DFR programs and operates these programs for communities of all sizes. This enables cities and counties to improve response speed and safety with a comprehensive, cost-effective DFR solution. Advanced programs allow first responders to deploy multiple drones using swarming techniques and leverage AI to operate them safely beyond visual line of sight, making this technology accessible for communities regardless of size.

City and county managers, public safety chiefs, city councils, and county commissioners should rethink their approach to public safety drones. These programs will make first responders safer and more effective. At a time when recruitment and retention are major concerns for local government leaders, boosting effectiveness and efficiency is crucial.

Some communities may lack a Chief Technology Officer, Chief AI Officer, Chief Innovation Officer, or Chief Information Officer who fully understands drones, AI, and public safety technology. That is where Fractional Source can provide support. With experienced fractional CTOs, CIOs, and other seasoned technology leaders, Fractional Source can help communities implement these programs cost-effectively right now.

In my next article, I will discuss the new 731-page Notice of Proposed Rulemaking from the FAA, which is focused on normalizing unmanned aircraft systems beyond visual line of sight operations. This proposed rule will align regulations to better support modern DFR operations as discussed above. Momentum appears to be building at the federal level, and the coming changes will affect all city, county, and state agencies, shaping how they can leverage future DFR programs.