Greeley Police to Participate in Program to Test Drones as First Responders

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

Kristen Duus, PIO
Greeley Police Department
970.350.9605 (office)
Kristen.duus@greeleypd.com

Greeley Police to Participate in Program to Test Drones as First Responders

 GREELEY, Colo. –  The Greeley Police Department is excited to announce the testing and evaluating of a small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) as a potential Drone as First Responder (DFR) program in partnership with Skydio. During the week of September 22-26, 2025, our teams will conduct real-world testing to see how drones can better support the city’s public safety departments, including the Greeley Police Department, the Greeley Fire Department, the Office of Emergency Management, and the Traffic team from Public Works. 

This initiative is designed to support our first responders on critical/high priority calls for service. When an appropriate call is received our personnel in the Real Time Information Center (RTIC) can deploy the sUAS to the scene often arriving before a police or fire vehicle. The sUAS is able to send real time video along with the drone’s aerial view of the scene provides responders with a better understanding of what is happening before they arrive. This information will allow the team to scale back or increase the response to the incident.

Our week-long DFR testing and evaluation program has four primary objectives: 

• Collect key data. We will measure if the drones help reduce response times, improve understanding of situations and enhance coordination across departments.
• Public Safety enhancement. Assess the value the program can bring to community safety, any reduction in scene response, and if they reduce the need for public resources.
• Improve department collaboration. Can drone technology help our public safety professionals (police, fire, emergency management, traffic) work more effectively during emergencies.
• Test and evaluate Skydio equipment. Evaluate the reliability and efficiency of drones and software. 

 Unlike our current public safety drone program, the sUAS is unmanned and operated remotely. If you see the drone being operated near your home or business, rest assured the flight is for a public safety need. 

While the DFR program is an emerging technology, its use is increasing across the nation. Cities and counties that have implemented DFR programs have reported reductions in auto theft, calls for service, and overall crime. This initiative shows Greeley’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology to ensure a safe and secure community. 

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DFR Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will deployed drones look into private properties?
A: DFR drones only respond to the location of emergency calls or incidents. They are not used for random surveillance and will only look at residential/private properties when deployed on a public safety call for service.

Q: What height will the drones be looked at?
A: DFR drones can fly up to 200 feet above the ground. This allows them to safely cover the scene and provide an overview without hovering over neighborhoods or businesses, and while also avoiding power lines, etc.

Q: What kind of noise will the drones make while deployed?
A: Drones do make a light buzzing sound similar to a lawn trimmer at a distance. Since they are operated at higher altitudes, the sound is usually faint and short-term.

Q: How is information provided from the drones to the officers?
A: The drone sends live video and location data back to trained officers in real time. This helps first responders see what’s happening before they arrive on scene.

Q: What is the battery life of the drones?
A: Most DFR drones have 20–30 minutes of flight time per battery. The docking station will charge the drone, and a rapid battery swap can occur in the field.

Q: Who operates the drones?
A: FAA licensed and trained operators will deploy and operate the drones following applicable state laws and department policies.

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