Police and Fire Departments Launch Drone as a First Responder Program
- Ashley Love
- 10 minutes ago
- 3 min read
By Lucy Hanlon
The City of Lake Forest is expanding its use of technology to help Police and Fire personnel respond to emergencies faster and with better information. City Council recently approved the establishment of a Drone as a First Responder pilot program, a joint Police and Fire initiative that will provide critical information to emergency responders within seconds of a 911 call.
Beginning this Fall, the Lake Forest Police Department and Lake Forest Fire Department will join the Glenview Public Safety Dispatch Center’s Drone as a First Responder program. A public safety drone will be stationed on the roof of the Public Safety Building at 255 E Deerpath, allowing dispatchers to launch it directly to an emergency.
The pilot program provides Lake Forest with an opportunity to evaluate the technology and its benefits to the community without an initial subscription cost. Six other communities are currently participating in the regional program through Glenview Dispatch Center.
Rather than waiting for a police officer or firefighter to arrive to get a first look at a scene, the drone can be airborne within seconds and provide live information to responders while they are in route. The technology is expected to have an average response time of less than 70 seconds, based on data from existing programs.
Once at the scene, the drone can provide real-time video, thermal imaging, and other situational information to help responders understand what they are encountering before they arrive. This information can help identify potential threats, locate people who need assistance, assess the severity of an incident, and determine the personnel and equipment needed.
“This technology will allow us to get eyes and ears on a potentially dangerous situation within seconds,” said Police Chief John Burke. “That information will help our officers make better decisions before they arrive at the scene. It will be an extremely valuable addition to our public safety capabilities.”
For the Fire Department, the drone can provide an early assessment of fires, traffic crashes, damaged structures, and other emergencies. Thermal imaging can help firefighters assess the severity and location of a fire, while the drone’s aerial view can provide information that may not be visible from the ground.
The technology will also be particularly valuable during water rescues on Lake Michigan. For example, if a boat were to capsize, the drone could quickly fly to the area to help locate the person and provide responders with a real-time view of the location and conditions on the water. When appropriate, the drone could also deliver a flotation device to a person in the water while Fire and Police personnel are responding, potentially providing critical support in the moments before rescue crews arrive.
The drone could also deliver other life-saving equipment, such as an EpiPen or Narcan directly, to a scene while first responders are on their way.
“Having the ability to quickly see what is happening at an emergency before our crews arrive will help us make more informed decisions about what personnel and apparatus are responding,” said Fire Chief Andy Rick. “This technology gives us another tool to improve situational awareness, use our resources more effectively, and get the right response moving in the right direction as quickly as possible.”
The program is designed to complement, not replace, Police and Fire personnel. Police and Fire personnel with specialized drone training will also be able to take manual control of the drone when needed and communicate with people at the scene through its onboard speaker.
Lake Forest has already established Police and Fire Department drone teams and uses drone technology at City-sponsored events and when responding to incidents. The new Drone as a First Responder program represents the next step in expanding that technology into daily emergency operations.
In accordance with Illinois law, the DFR drone will not be used for random surveillance. It will be deployed in response to emergency calls and for legitimate public safety purposes.
