
Drones as First Responders: How Schenectady PD Is Rewriting Patrol Efficiency
The Schenectady Police Department in New York State has logged 1,437 drone flights since launching its Drone as First Responder (DFR) program in 2025. Drones arrived on scene before patrol units in 835 of those calls — a 58% first-arrival rate. The program has eliminated 455 officer dispatches, assisted in 62 arrests, and located 353 items, with an average mission time of just 14 minutes.
Source: BRINC News










