How Can Law Enforcement Agencies Use Drones?

Equip your team with the latest in drone technology, specially curated for public safety applications. We have a range of options designed to suit your budget and operational needs. Our offerings range from DJI’s flagship Matrice 350 RTK, and the agile Teledyne FLIR SIRAS, to the the feature-rich Autel EVO MAX 4T, each with their tailored packages. Explore these and other top-notch solutions here, for law enforcement, search and rescue, and emergency response agencies.

1 of 4
  • Rapid Response

    Drones can quickly reach emergency sites, providing real-time information to first responders and helping them make informed decisions. Fire departments use firefighting drones to quickly assess fire scenes, providing information on the fire's spread, potential hazards, and optimal entry points. Similarly, law enforcement agencies deploy drones to rapidly assess active shooter or hostage situations, improving response times and tactical planning.

  • Cost-Effective

    Drones are often less expensive than manned aircraft, offering a cost-effective solution for agencies to gather information and respond to emergencies. Rural fire departments with limited resources use drones for aerial support during wildfires, quickly assessing fire spread and planning safe firefighting strategies without the expense of manned aircraft. Similarly, small police departments rely on drones for budget-friendly aerial surveillance during investigations, search operations, or public events, avoiding the high costs associated with police helicopters. In remote regions, emergency management agencies deploy drones for post-disaster assessments, victim location, and aid delivery, reducing the need for costly manned aircraft or extensive ground teams.

  • Improved Safety

    Drones can be deployed in dangerous situations, such as fires or hazardous materials incidents, including chemical spills and radiation leaks, without exposing responders to unnecessary risks. Disaster response teams utilize search and rescue drones to scout hazardous or inaccessible areas, reducing the risk to rescue personnel.

  • Enhanced Situational Awareness

    Emergency medical services use drones to evaluate accident scenes, allowing them to better triage patients and allocate resources. Law enforcement agencies employ drones for aerial surveillance during large public gatherings, helping monitor crowd movement and detect potential threats.

  • Increased Accessibility

    Drones can easily access remote or hard-to-reach areas, making them invaluable in SAR missions – like Coast Guard and maritime rescue agencies using drones to access and survey rocky coastlines or remote islands in search and rescue operations.

  • Extended Operational Hours

    Drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras can operate in low-light conditions or at night, significantly extending the operational hours of public safety agencies. Border patrol agencies use drones to monitor borders and detect illegal activities, while wildlife agencies leverage the versatility of drones like the DJI Mavic 3 Pro to monitor wildlife, including nocturnal animals, to track and protect endangered species. Search and rescue operations deploy drones to locate missing individuals in challenging conditions, and law enforcement agencies use them to detect illegal drug cultivation or smuggling activities, which are often carried out under the cover of darkness.

  • High-Quality Data Collection

    Drones can capture high-resolution images and videos, as well as other critical data, providing valuable insights for various situations. Law enforcement agencies use drones to capture detailed aerial images of accident scenes, creating accurate 3D models for analysis that help determine the cause, assess liability, and improve traffic safety measures. Fire departments and emergency management agencies deploy drones to capture high-resolution images of areas affected by wildfires, enabling them to assess the extent of the damage, identify potential hazards, and plan for post-fire recovery and reforestation efforts. Forensic teams utilize drones to capture detailed aerial imagery of crime scenes, creating comprehensive 3D reconstructions that assist investigators in piecing together sequences of events, identifying evidence, and solving crimes.

  • Flexible Deployment

    Drones can be quickly deployed and repositioned as needed, offering flexibility in responding to dynamic situations. In flood response, drones are rapidly deployed to assess damage, locate stranded individuals, and help plan rescue efforts, with pilots adapting flight paths to cover affected areas and respond to emerging needs. During large protests or demonstrations, law enforcement agencies use drones to monitor crowd movements and identify potential flashpoints, repositioning them in real time to focus on specific areas or follow the crowd as needed. After an earthquake, drones are deployed to assess structural damage, identify unsafe buildings, and assist in coordinating recovery efforts, easily redirecting to survey new areas of concern and provide updated information to emergency responders.

  • Improved Communication

    Drones can serve as temporary communication relays, enhancing communication between first responders and command centers during large-scale emergencies. In wildfire response, drones equipped with communication devices extend the range of radio signals, enabling firefighters and incident commanders to stay connected even in remote areas. After earthquakes or building collapses, drones provide temporary communication relays for urban search and rescue teams, ensuring communication in areas with damaged cell towers or compromised infrastructure. In mass casualty incidents, drones help establish a temporary communication network, allowing emergency medical responders to coordinate triage and patient transport more effectively.

  • Public Engagement

    Drones can provide live video feeds during public events or emergencies to enhance transparency and community involvement. Law enforcement agencies use drone footage to showcase their efforts in combating crime and serving the community, fostering public trust and engagement. For environmental conservation, drones capture footage of protected areas, allowing agencies to highlight conservation efforts and raise awareness about preserving natural habitats. Emergency management agencies utilize drones to document disaster response training and exercises, sharing the footage to educate the public about the importance of disaster preparedness and community resilience.

1 of 10

What Are The Best Drone Packages for Public Safety Uses?

The best drone packages for your public safety program depend on your primary usage scenarios. A common public safety use case that drones are ideally suited for is Search and Rescue. SAR operations can be very time-consuming and difficult for teams on the ground to efficiently cover large areas in their search for lost, injured, or distressed individuals. In contrast, drones can quickly cover large areas faster and more efficiently with the use of thermal cameras to locate the subjects and assess their status. Drones can be used to send actionable data regarding location and environmental conditions back to the ground crew to ensure the right kind of help arrives as quickly as possible.

Blue UAS for public safety

At DSLRPros, you can also find Blue UAS. These are drones that have been evaluated and approved by the Defense Innovation Unit of the Department of Defense. As drone products are recommended for use by the US government, you can rest assured that these units under the blue UAS list are reliable tools for various tasks, including maintaining public safety, conducting routine patrol, responding to emergencies, and enhancing physical security through surveillance. Get started by exploring the Parrot ANAFI USA (GOV Edition) whose development was a collaboration between Parrot and the US Army.

Applications for Public Safety Drones

How Can First Responders Use Drones?

Public safety agencies have come to rely on drones for missions of all kinds - to accomplish tasks that would otherwise be impossible without them. Drones afford an aerial perspective and other advanced capabilities that Police, Fire, SAR teams, and other Public Safety and First Responders can benefit from. When every moment counts, search and rescue drones can fly to cover large areas that would take much longer for ground teams to cover, and can access areas too dangerous for manned aircraft. Thermal cameras from companies such as FLIR and DJI can be used to easily pick out individuals from among the terrain based on heat signature- even at night, in dense foliage, or in foggy conditions.

Drones help firefighters to monitor a fire scene, allowing them to get the entire picture from above in a way not possible from the ground. Operators can use thermal cameras to locate and monitor hotspots and direct crews in fighting any ongoing blaze more safely and efficiently. In addition, thermal cameras offer the added advantage of being able to “see” through the smoke or in poor lighting conditions.

In the event that bridges or roads become impassable, drones can continue to provide emergency workers with vital information they need to locate survivors and bring aid in a timely manner. Drones can be used to deliver life-saving supplies such as food, water, radios, and more. Aerial mapping capability is also a critical asset for post-disaster reconstruction efforts.

What Public Safety Drone Technologies and Packages Are Available?

We know you're always on the lookout for the best equipment to help you safeguard the public and manage emergencies. Drones have become an essential tool for law enforcement, search, and rescue operations, and even firefighting. At DSLRPros, we understand the importance of providing drones that are both high-quality and budget-friendly. That's why we offer a range of drone packages to meet the needs of any public safety organization.

When searching for the top public safety drones, consider the drone's camera capabilities, battery life, transmission range, and safety features. For search and rescue operations, drones with thermal cameras are invaluable. You get this with solutions such as the DSLRPros Matrice 350 RTK Public Safety Package. Launched in 2023, the M350 RTK is an asset for first responders and police agencies alike. You get a drone with dual-operator capability and a rugged case, allowing you to fly for hours without worry. Its 6-directional sensing ensures that your drone is always aware of its surroundings. And as an added bonus, when you invest in this package, you also get a day of free in-person training.

Budget constraints? Don't worry. We understand that not every department has deep pockets, and that's where affordable police drones come into play. The Teledyne FLIR SIRAS Combo gives you the luxury of having no geofencing with dual thermal & visible cameras. It takes off in less than 60 seconds, ensuring that in emergency situations, you're airborne without delay.

For those looking for a compact yet powerful drone, the Autel EVO MAX 4T Bundle is a great choice. This drone takes off in just 15 seconds making it perfect for time-sensitive operations, and features a 640 x 512 thermal camera with 30 fps and 16x digital zoom. It also has an 8K camera with 10x optical zoom and 160x max hybrid zoom, as well as a 4K 30fps wide camera with Moonlight Algorithm 2.0 for enhanced low-light performance. Moreover, it can navigate even in GPS-denied environments - a major plus for complex rescue missions.

With the DJI Matrice 30 + TB30*2 + DJI Care Basic you get a reliable and versatile platform with sensors that detect obstacles in six directions, an IP55 weather rating, and an emergency landing capability even with just three propellers. The smart BS30 charging case enables rapid battery charging, and the built-in AES encryption ensures data security. That's reliability right there! With dual cameras and a laser rangefinder, this drone provides comprehensive aerial intelligence, making it one of the best drones for search and rescue missions.

Another gem in the lineup is the DJI Mavic 3 Thermal (Care Basic). This drone comes equipped with sensors that detect obstacles in six directions, an IP55 weather rating, and emergency landing capability with three propellers. It also includes a smart BS30 charging case for rapid battery charging and AES encryption on SD cards for added security.

Finally, the Autel EVO II Dual 640T Enterprise Bundle V3 is a compact powerhouse. It comes with a high-resolution thermal camera and an ultra-sensitive 50MP visual camera. With 360-degree obstacle avoidance, a 38-minute maximum flight time, and a SkyLink 2.0 video transmission range of up to 15 km, this drone provides maximum performance while ensuring uncompromised safety.

Bring a whole new level of efficiency to the operations of your public safety agency with cutting-edge drone technology. Explore our offerings and find the drone that's right for your needs. Questions? Contact our support team at(877) 299-1075 or (213) 262-9436, or email sales@DSLRPros.com. We're here to help!

The DSLRPros Advantage

  • UAV THERMAL EXPERTS

    We are industry leaders in thermal imaging drones. As one of the pioneers in thermal drone technology, our team of experts will help you build a custom solution that meets both your budget and needs.

  • MISSION SPECIFIC SOLUTIONS

    We specialize in the development and delivery of cost-effective mission-specific enterprise solutions. All our kits are specially designed, assembled, and individually tested for quality assurance in the United States.

  • AFTER PURCHASE SUPPORT

    Our customer service doesn't just end with your purchase; we go the extra mile to make sure our customers have the guidance they need. As our customer, you will know us by name and can count on us for support whenever you need it.