From early lessons to AI integration: The evolution of drones as first responders

Drones as first responders (DFR) have quickly moved from experimental pilots to a central part of modern public safety response. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley talks with Rahul Sidhu, vice president of aviation at Flock Safety and co-founder of Aerodome, about how agencies can successfully launch, scale and sustain DFR programs. Sidhu shares lessons from his own start at Redondo Beach PD, common pitfalls agencies should avoid, and what comes next as AI and automation redefine drone deployment in emergency response. About our sponsor This episode is sponsored by Flock Safety . Discover the leading safety technology platform that helps communities thrive by taking a proactive approach to crime prevention and security. Empower your agency to solve crime faster with Flock's city-wide platform. Our full-service, maintenance-free solution helps you solve more crime to shape a safer future for thousands of communities across the country. Flock Safety provides best-in-class License Plate Readers (LPRs), audio detection, video cameras, RTCC software, and Drone as First Responder systems for law enforcement to solve crime and keep their cities safe.