The Howard County Police Department is continuing to enhance its use of technology to offer residents improved public safety services.
The agency is expanding its drone program to include “Drone as First Responder” (DFR), which will deploy seven pre-positioned drones from rooftop docks to arrive at calls-for-service in minutes or even seconds, bypassing traffic and physical road barriers and significantly speeding up police response.
The drones will stream live video to the HCPD’s Real Time Information Center, giving responding officers aerial information to prepare for what they might encounter at the scene. This helps responders assess hazards, look for weapons, locate suspects, and track missing children or vulnerable adults.
Like the HCPD’s standard drone program, which was launched in early 2020, DFRs will not patrol or monitor the public, identify faces or record sound.
In addition to the DFR Program, the HCPD will implement additional technologies through an agreement with its current vendor, Axon, including programs to improve communication using immediate translation capabilities; assist officers in writing reports more quickly and efficiently; enhance the collection and review of digital evidence; and improve non-emergency calls from the public for routine requests, freeing dispatch center staff for emergency 911 calls.
These new tools and the DFR Program are expected to be implemented in phases over the next few months. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the DFR Program can be found here: https://www.howardcountymd.gov/police/drones#drone-as-a-first-responder-dfr-program-faq
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Source: www.howardcountymd.gov
