Dial 911 to summon a drone: Montgomery police will soon fly to your location for emergencies

Montgomery County Sheriff's Office is launching a drone pilot program for faster 911 response.

: Montgomery County in Texas is initiating a drone pilot program for quicker 911 response times. The program aims to address the challenges of increased population and traffic. Drones will get eyes on emergency situations before human officers arrive. Privacy concerns have been raised by groups such as the ACLU of Texas.

Montgomery County Sheriff's Office is implementing a new drone pilot program to enhance response times for 911 emergency calls. With the county's population growing significantly, the use of drones is seen as a way to get a preliminary assessment of emergency situations before officers can physically arrive, thus providing a more appropriate response plan.

Lieutenant Scott Spencer mentioned that police officers face the same traffic and road constraints as ordinary residents, making the drones a valuable asset to gain quicker situational awareness. The drone program is headed by Samuel Harrison and it aims to use the technology, previously implemented for search and rescue, in a more direct 911 response capacity.

Although the Montgomery drone program is primarily for surveillance and communication, other regions like California and Colorado have also shown interest in similar initiatives. Civil liberties groups including the ACLU of Texas have expressed concerns over these drone programs, citing potential infringements on individual privacy and the alteration of conventional policing practices.

PoliceDronesLaw enforcement