If you call 911 in Georgia city, a drone might respond soon

ATLANTA – Brookhaven, Ga., will become the first city in the southeast to adopt a first responder program that uses unmanned drones to respond to 911 calls and emergencies and to conduct investigations.

On Tuesday night, the city approved funding for the Brookhaven Police Department’s UAS (unmanned aerial system) unit, which will consist of four drones. Police will be able to deploy them to witness crimes in progress, document crime scenes or provide a bird’s eye view for officers on the ground.

Not every 911 call will be answered with a drone, but Brookhaven police said the project will give its officers more flexibility, availability and information, while limiting in-person contact amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s literally a game changer,” Brookhaven police Lt. Abrem Ayana said at a city meeting Tuesday night.

Ayana, who pitched the project to the City Council, said Brookhaven will become the second city in the country to adopt this program — the first was the Chula Vista Police Department in California in 2018.

A police drone will have the potential to prevent police chases, catch criminals in the act and determine when 911 calls don’t require an officer to respond, Ayana said. Chula Vista police have credited the drone program with more than 275 arrests and 650 calls for service that ended up not needing an officer’s presence.

Brookhaven estimates that a drone response costs roughly 10% of the cost of dispatching an officer and patrol vehicle. Police added that drones can respond much quicker to scenes since they can bypass traffic. Ayana said drones should be able to access roughly 70% of the city due to Federal Aviation Agency restrictions and the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport.

Each drone is equipped with an onboard camera that records and streams HD video back to the department’s crime center, where an officer can relay information to police on the ground. The drones are also capable of thermal imaging, which can spot suspects at night.

“It takes a lot of the hide-and-seek aspect out of hide-and-seek,” Ayana said. “We’re going to see a lot more suspects identified in crimes because a drone is going to get there first and provide information.”

Brookhaven plans to train and obtain FAA licenses for 12 operators.