The Town of Ramapo Police Department is continuing to showcase the growing impact of its Drone as First Responder (DFR) program, not only during major emergencies but also during everyday calls for service that consume valuable patrol resources.
Police officials said the department has already demonstrated how the program assists during serious incidents, active investigations, dangerous situations, and search operations by providing officers with rapid aerial awareness in real time. However, officials now say the technology is also proving effective during lower-priority calls that occur thousands of times each year.
One of the key concepts behind the DFR program is what is known as a “negative response time” or “sub-zero response time,” meaning the drone is already airborne and responding before all details of a call are fully broadcast over police radio channels. In many cases, the drone arrives on scene before patrol officers, quickly assessing the situation and relaying live information back to responding units.
According to the department, a recent incident demonstrated how the program can improve efficiency when RAPTOR-2, one of the department’s autonomous drones, responded to a minor call for service and was able to clear the incident without requiring a physical patrol unit to respond. Officials said that allowed officers to remain available for higher-priority emergencies and proactive policing efforts elsewhere in the community.
Ramapo Police say the DFR program, operated using autonomous drone technology developed by Skydio and co-founder Adam Bry, continues to enhance officer safety, improve response capabilities, and maximize limited manpower resources.
The Town of Ramapo Police Department currently operates the only DFR program in Rockland County.
