FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WFFT) -- The Fort Wayne Police Department may have the future of first responders.
The Air Support Unit can deploy drones to the scene of a 911 call. The drones reach the scene 72 percent faster than ground units.
The drone transmits a live feed to the controller in dispatch. There, the controller can relay necessary information to officers before they arrive on the scene.
FWPD Air Support Unit Officer Matt Rowland said this technology will be very beneficial when responding to calls.
“I think that being able to get there, to get that live information, that live view because sometimes that's hard to portray over the phone," he said. "You think about when people call 911, they're in distress, they aren't thinking as clearly as they should be or could be about what's going on.”
Rowland said the Drone First Responder program will work closely with dispatch. Executive Director of the Fort Wayne Allen County 911 Center David Bubb said he was skeptical at first, but he's since come around to the idea.
"People that are calling us usually aren’t having their best day and sometimes it’s hard to extract information," he said. "About 95 percent of our calls are answered and completed in two minutes and 11 seconds. The drone is already on scene at that point before we’re completing the call and getting it into the system. So it’s a win win."
For those concerned with privacy, and how that will be impacted with a drone flying overhead filming, Rowland said not to worry.
“This is not surveillance, not by any means. We are only responding to calls for service, whether they come in by 911 or the desk line or some other means. We’re not just randomly patrolling," he said.
Rowland said they don't record video unless it is needed for evidential reasons.
The drone program currently operates Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It can only fly during daylight hours, and if the weather permits. Rowland hopes to address those limitations and eventually fly every day at any time.
