Red Deer RCMP drone program hits 324 calls in three months

Red Deer RCMP's Drone as First Responder program has been deployed to approximately 324 calls for service in its first three months of operation, Alberta RCMP said in a news release dated Oct. 1.

The program, launched June 18, was the first of its kind at any RCMP detachment in Canada. It sends a drone to calls alongside responding officers, giving incident commanders and frontline personnel a live aerial view of a scene as it develops.

Drones launch from the detachment rooftop as officers are dispatched on the ground. Because they travel directly to a location and are unaffected by traffic or road conditions, they can reach a scene and begin relaying information before officers arrive.

The program has supported responses to break and enters, stolen vehicles and suspicious persons calls. It has also been used twice to assist Red Deer Emergency Services with fires in forested areas, with the drone pilot assessing the size and scope of each fire and directing crews to the exact location.

"The Drone as First Responder program has already demonstrated how technology can strengthen emergency response and improve public safety," said Supt. Holly Glassford, officer in charge of Red Deer RCMP. "When deployed to a high-risk call, the drone can provide real-time aerial information to responding officers and supervisors, helping them better understand what is occurring and make informed decisions about how to safely approach and manage the incident."

Acting Fire Chief Curtis Schaefer said the program gives his crews an earlier read on what they are heading into. "Whether it is a fire, river rescue, or another type of emergency, the drone can provide valuable information to our crews before they arrive on scene," Schaefer said. "It is also helpful in identifying the location and extent of brush fires, particularly in Red Deer's forested and natural areas."

RCMP said the Drone as First Responder program operates separately from the detachment's existing Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems program, which is a mobile unit used for search and rescue, major investigations and suspect apprehensions. The two programs are intended to complement each other.

The program was developed in collaboration with the City of Red Deer, with support from Alberta RCMP Operational Communications Centre and Alberta RCMP Air Services.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled Supt. Holly Glassford's name and gave the wrong date for the RCMP news release, which is dated Oct. 1.