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Kent Police Department proposes Drone First Responder program

During an August 18 workshop, Cmdr. Josh Bava briefed the City Council on a potential Drone First Responder program that the Kent Police Department may implement by 2027. This initiative would deploy drones as primary responders to emergency calls.
Unlike current operations requiring on-scene pilots, DFR allows officers to launch drones from remote locations to gather information before arriving. KPD aims to reduce response times, decrease in-person calls, minimize vehicular pursuits, and deploy assets to major emergency incidents.
To evaluate the technology, Skydio is providing four model X10 drones for a one-month pilot program at no cost to KPD. These units feature a maximum flight speed of 45 mph and a 40-minute flight time.
Approval depends on the 2027/2028 biennial budget, which the City Council will vote on in November. Meanwhile, ACLU-WA technology policy program director Tee Sannon urged strict privacy regulations on data collection and retention.
Across Washington, other agencies are implementing or considering DFR programs. Redmond Police launched a program in 2024, the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office started its own this week, and Bellevue Police plan a pilot with Skydio this fall.

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