Arlington’s public safety drones are ready to fly, the county announced this morning.
The drones “are an additional tool for first responders and provide enhanced operational capability, safety, and situational awareness in support of public safety,” the county said.
Members of the police department, fire department, Sheriff’s Office and emergency management department have been trained on use of the miniature aircraft.
More on the program, below, from the county press release.
Arlington County’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) is now operational following a period of policy development and training.
UAS, commonly referred to as drones, are an additional tool for first responders and provide enhanced operational capability, safety, and situational awareness in support of public safety. The deployment of UAS will be conducted by trained members of the Arlington County Fire Department, Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, and Department of Public Safety Communications and Emergency Management. This technology complements the existing in-car and body-worn camera systems used to document digital recordings of public safety activity.
Community Engagement
Prior to implementation, the program sought community feedback on draft Unmanned Aircraft System policies to ensure they were reflective of the Arlington Community’s values, interests, and concerns. The program strives to provide the level of service that is not only expected but reflective of this community and appreciates all who took the time to read, review, and provide feedback. All comments were reviewed and evaluated for incorporation into the policies.
For additional information on policy changes based on community feedback, visit the program webpage.
Final Unmanned Aircraft Systems Policies
- Police Department
- Sheriff’s Office
- Department of Public Safety Communications and Emergency Management
- The Fire Department’s policy is pending finalization. Once complete, it will be available on the UAS program website.
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