The Delta Police Department’s (DPD) drones have become useful tools, but now that will be taken a step further with their deployment as first responders.
Members of the department were on hand at the North Delta Safety Building on Thursday to announce the launch of the pilot Drone as First Responder (DFR) program, an initiative that will have drones launched from the top of the building to quickly fly over accidents or crimes underway in the community.
Only recording if there is evidentiary value, the drones can provide a live video feed to enable officers to know what to expect upon arrival and deploy the right resources quicker.
The DFR program is to build on the DPD’s existing use of drones for public safety and investigative response, improving police response times.
Once a call for service is initiated, a drone operator classifies the call and makes decision to launch, regardless of the operator’s physical location.
The drones can be particularly useful in showing real-time accident scenes or other scenarios, such as capturing a live image of a suspect vehicle leaving a crime scene, providing rapid situational awareness, and enabling police to assess situations quicker as well as cover more ground.
Any recorded data is handled confidentially and protected against unauthorized disclosure.
A/Insp. James Sandberg described the initiative as a potential game-changer and the initial response has been positive.
A/Staff Sgt. Jim Ingram, head of the department’s drone program, provided a demonstration with an operator launching a drone from the rooftop and flying over a certain vehicle in a neighourhing parking lot for a rapid scene assessment. Not only can the operator see the live feed, but, if needed, it can be dispatched to officers in their cars and even Ingram’s video screen attached to his police vest.
Noting the devices as first responders is being built into the department’s emergency management program, including disaster response, Ingram added getting eyes on a scene right away can also assist in improving the safety of officers.
Ingram noted the DPD has worked with Transport Canada to get a special operational certificate and informed other law enforcement agencies.
While the pilot program to provide real-time areal perspectives can cover most of North Delta, special permission from NAV Canada will be required if the program expands to South Delta’s air space, due in part to the proximity to Boundary Bay Airport, he added.
