BRAND new drone technology will replace first responders in the rush to get to emergency scenes at a moment’s notice.
The Hempstead Police Department, located an hour away from New York City on Long Island, has introduced automatic drones with an impressive average response time of only 85 seconds.
These drones are part of a new system provided by Flock Safety, a tech company that specializes in public safety. This initiative marks Flock Safety’s inaugural program in the state of New York.
The drones will be stationed at docks across the city, where they’ll be prepared to deploy anywhere within a four-mile radius in under two minutes.
The drones can immediately get eyes on emergencies and service calls, which creates safer and more efficient cases for responding officers.
In a recent press release, Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley expressed that drone-as-first-responder programs are poised to revolutionize public safety by enhancing emergency responses, defusing hazardous situations, and expediting case resolutions.
“No other technology helps law enforcement officers get eyes on the scene faster than a drone.”
The new system will work alongside HPD’s existing license plate reader and video cameras, also installed by Flock.
The LPR cameras can help locate stolen vehicles, known wanted offenders, and missing people.
The cameras will speed response times by reporting the recorded information to drone dispatch.
All of the systems are streamlined through the city’s real-time information center.
“Hempstead PD has long been at the forefront of high-tech policing,” Police Chief Richard Holland said.
“We’re excited to see the public safety benefits this game-changing DFR system will bring to our village.”
Flock Safety’s tech is used in over 5,000 communities across the country, the company says on its website.
The intelligent platform can be used by cities, businesses, schools, and police to stop crime.
Austin, Texas, installed 40 of Flock’s license plate reader cameras across their city last year.
Flock Safety’s new program
Hempstead Police Department on Long Island, New York, is using a new drone program to respond to emergency scenes.
The drone-as-first-responder system was designed to respond to emergencies and call for service quickly and more safely.
The DFR system is the first program in New York by Flock Safety, which provides public safety technology.
The Flock Aerodrome DFR system puts drones at automated, battery-swapping docks across Hempstead.
The drones can reach anywhere within a four-mile radius to get eyes on the scene.
The system has an average response time of 85 seconds.
The program goes hand in hand with HPD’s existing license plate readers and video cameras, also installed by Flock.
The Austin Police Department said the tech helped them catch multiple criminals at a meeting in October – but the cameras still caused a stir among residents.
Drivers raised questions about privacy, data retention, and discrimination caused by the technology.
Residents also showed concern about the number of “false positive stops.”
False positive stops would include cops pulling over people because the tech misread a license plate.
In September of last year, the Texas Department of Public Safety also ordered Flock Safety to stop operating in private homes and businesses when the company failed to obtain a private investigator’s license.
Flock Safety hasn’t returned The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.
