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Red Deer RCMP have begun sending drones to some calls before officers arrive.
Police say the Drone as First Responder program, known as DFR, is the first of its kind in Canada. It launched on June 18.
The program runs Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Drones take off from the north and south Red Deer RCMP detachments. Pilots fly them from control centres at each site, RCMP say in a news release. RCMP call the program a team-minded endeavour built with several partners.
The program allows for direct communication between drone pilots and members of the community. While flying the drone, pilots are able to stay on the phone with the person who made the call. RCMP say this lets them gather more information, actively give the callers updates and allows for an unbroken line of communication.
In the program’s first week, a drone was sent to an assault complaint where the suspect ran on foot. The pilot was quickly able to track the suspect from the air, and RCMP say the arrest was made safely. Pilots also flew to a weapons complaint where the drone was able to show there was no weapon and no threat to the public, according to police. RCMP also say drones were used to respond to a range of calls on Canada Day.
“This is a prime example of how the DFR can provide updated and essential information to responding officers, as well as increase public safety,” says Staff Sergeant Jay Jestings of the Red Deer RCMP.
Red Deer RCMP have flown drones since 2020 under a separate program called Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, or RPAS. Those drone are carried to scenes by officers. RCMP say RPAS will keep running alongside DFR.
Superintendent Holly Glassford, the officer in charge of the Red Deer attachment, says the work grew out of a test project run by K Division RCMP Air Services in May 2024.
“Having the drone attend a scene before responding personnel allows for a real time analysis of the situation,” Glassford said in May. “We are then able to allocate appropriate resources based on the specific nature of that call for service.”
The program was built with Red Deer Municipal Policing Services, Red Deer Emergency Services and K Division RCMP Air Services. Fire crews, paramedics and bylaw are also able to take advantage of the program.
RCMP say the drones will not be used for random surveillance, they are not flown without lawful authority. All flights follow Transport Canada rules and privacy law, police say.
Closer to home, the Medicine Hat Police Service have flown drones since 2020, though the service does not run a DFR program itself. Instead, MHPS uses a police vehicle fitted to carry and charge a drone, allowing officers to put one in the air soon after they arrive. The city promotes itself as “Canada’s Drone City” because it is the leading city in Canada for drone manufacturing, volume and testing.
A media event on the Red Deer program is set for July 29.
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