Eight remotely piloted drones now stand ready at Dallas Fire-Rescue stations to provide live aerial support for 911 calls across targeted city zones.
The Dallas Police Department activated its Drone as First Responder program on May 20, 2026. The aircraft operate from the Fusion/Real Time Crime Center and cover areas within a two-mile radius of bases selected through call-for-service heat maps. A ninth station is scheduled at Fair Park to support security operations during upcoming FIFA events.
Each drone carries thermal cameras and loudspeakers. Officers receive immediate overhead video that helps assess scenes before ground units arrive. The system allows remote pilots to guide patrol teams directly to subjects or hazards while reducing unnecessary vehicle deployments.
On May 21, 2026, one drone responded to a freeway incident. It located a subject walking in traffic and directed responding officers to the precise location.
Assistant Chief Mark Villarreal stated the program aims to shorten response times and clear certain calls without sending officers. "I'm hoping we can further reduce response times and not have to send officers to certain calls and clear those from the air," he said.
Deputy Chief and Fire Marshal Eric Beal of Dallas Fire-Rescue noted the benefit to fire personnel. "That means avoiding a lot of wear and tear on the apparatuses and, more importantly, our personnel, keeping them at the fire station until a bigger event to respond to," Beal said.
The drones support both police and fire operations. Inter-agency access allows Dallas Fire-Rescue units to request aerial views for structure fires or medical emergencies within the coverage zones. Program officials selected the initial eight stations based on historical call volume data to maximize coverage in high-demand sectors.
Remote pilots maintain continuous communication with field supervisors through the Real Time Crime Center. This setup supplies officers with updated situational awareness before they reach the scene, improving both response efficiency and officer safety.
