- The Dunwoody Police Department employs a drone launched from the roof that is connected to both the 911 dispatch system and the Real Time Crime Center. This setup enables quick mobilization to incident sites.
- The drone offers an aerial perspective, improving reaction speed and officer security by evaluating dangers, pinpointing individuals of interest, and gauging necessary resources.
- Known as the "Flock Drone," this device has shown effectiveness in capturing criminals and is referred to as a "flying first responder." It provides quicker, safer, and more intelligent emergency responses.
DUNWOODY, Ga. - The Dunwoody Police Department is literally elevating public safety with the introduction of a drone launched from a roof.
The drone is seamlessly connected with both its 911 dispatch system and the Real Time Crime Center systems.
What they're sayingReferred to as the "Flock Drone," this unmanned aerial vehicle can be deployed mere moments after receiving a 911 call, swiftly rising into the air and making its way toward the incident location prior to the police hitting the streets.
When Flock 911 receives an alert, we just have to press a button to send out the drone," explained Sergeant Michael Cheek. "The device launches on its own and as soon as it reaches a specific altitude, we can seize control and navigate it using GPS coordinates.
The Dunwoody police claim they are the sole agency in Georgia utilizing this technology in such a manner at present.
"The Dunwoody Police Department is the sole agency in our state utilizing these drones for operations and deployments," stated Cheek.
Local perspectiveThe drone is positioned atop the Dunwoody Police Department building, providing law enforcement with an overhead perspective of ongoing incidents. This high-altitude viewpoint enhances reaction speed and officer security by enabling them to evaluate dangers, pinpoint culprits, and ascertain whether more backup is required.
"Having that panoramic perspective enables us to determine whether we require extra resources," Cheek stated.
The department states that the drone has lately been instrumental in capturing an individual who was being sought by authorities from another region. Following the identification of the suspect’s vehicle within the city via Flock license plate scanners, officers deployed the drone to pinpoint his location from overhead.
"As soon as they figured out he didn’t have a gun but only a cell phone, they approached him directly," stated Cheek.
From this vantage point, officers can gather more comprehensive information to determine the best way to handle a situation and decide if they need to increase the level of their response.
"it has proven to be incredibly beneficial," Cheek noted additionally.
The Dunwoody Police Department refers to the drone as a "flying first responder," noting that it has demonstrated itself to be quicker, safer, and more efficient compared to conventional response techniques.
The Dunwoody Police Department communicated with FOX 5's Denise Dillon for this report.