The Chula Vista Police Department in San Diego County, California, launched its Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program in October 2018, integrating aerial technology to enhance public safety. The program equips law enforcement with real-time intelligence to improve response to calls for service, manage emergencies, and conduct criminal investigations. Drones play a vital role in providing aerial perspectives of incidents, clearing buildings safely, documenting crime and accident scenes, assisting in de-escalation, and locating missing persons.
Why Chula Vista PD created the DFR program
The Chula Vista Police Department has embraced a cutting-edge approach to policing with its Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program, enhancing both officer and community safety while reducing response times. By providing real-time situational awareness, DFR allows emergency personnel to assess incidents before arriving on scene, offering a critical advantage in decision-making. Unlike traditional air support, DFR enables a trained pilot/incident commander to virtually arrive first—often minutes ahead of officers—to relay essential information.
Equipped with high-definition streaming capabilities, DFR transmits live video to officers, supervisors, dispatchers, and command staff via mobile and desktop devices, ensuring seamless coordination. Operating remotely from within the police department, the DFR teleoperator controls the drone and provides responding officers with real-time intelligence, improving efficiency and safety on the ground.
Focus of the Chula Vista PD DFR program
Chula Vista’s Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program operates from four designated launch sites across the city, deploying drones to a range of critical incidents where real-time intelligence enhances safety and efficiency. Drones are dispatched to crimes in progress, serious accidents, officer assistance calls, and any situation where gaining situational awareness before officers arrive can improve response outcomes.
Since its launch, the DFR program has responded to over 20,000 calls for service, continuously reducing response times, enhancing officer and community safety, and delivering real-time aerial insights to support better decision-making.
DFR success story
In October 2023, Chula Vista Police Department officers rescued a man trapped in a burning car along the freeway, a mission made possible by the Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program and real-time intelligence from Live911.
When 911 calls came in, crucial details were unclear, making it difficult for officers to locate the crash site. Within moments, a CVPD drone was deployed, providing an aerial view and guiding responding officers to the exact location.
The DFR teleoperator, monitoring the live video feed, confirmed the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames with no signs of anyone escaping. Upon arrival, officers immediately attempted to break the rear window to free the driver, despite the intense heat and life-threatening conditions. Using fire extinguishers to knock down the flames, they managed to pull the driver out through the rear window and drag him up a steep embankment to safety.
Mere seconds after the rescue, the vehicle was once again fully consumed by fire. The entire incident, captured on drone footage, highlighted the critical role DFR technology plays in enhancing response times and saving lives.
Despite suffering severe burns and a compound fracture, the driver was conscious, breathing, and able to speak after the rescue. The seamless coordination between the DFR teleoperator and responding officers ensured a life-saving outcome, proving the life-or-death impact of drone-assisted policing.
Watch the dramatic rescue in the video below.
Chula Vista DFR technology
- DFR Platform: Motorola/Cape Solutions
- DFR Aircraft: DJI Matrice M300 RTK and DJI Matrice M350 RTK
- Parachute System: Aerial Vehicle Safety Solutions (AVSS) Parachute Recovery System
- Payload Drop: N/A
- Human visual observer required: Yes
- Two full-time pilots and 24 collateral duty pilots trained in DFR and Tactical Operations
- Pilot training company: Regional Training Center (RTC)/Ongoing monthly training in-house
- Detection technology: N/A
