Trending Topics

Photo of the week: Meet Knightro, the high-flying crime fighter helping keep Central Florida safe

“From catching bad guys to providing real-time situational awareness, drones are making a real impact in Central Florida.”

OCSD Skydio drone

Abraham Gutierrez

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office – Orlando (OCSO) has officially introduced Knightro, its new Skydio X10 drone, named after the University of Central Florida’s iconic mascot of the UCF Knights!

“These shots capture Knightro in action as we research Drones as First Responders (DFR) — a game-changing technology enhancing public safety. From catching bad guys to providing real-time situational awareness, drones are making a real impact in Central Florida,” said Deputy First Class Michael Kleinfelt, UAS Coordinator for OCSO.

Drone 2-8.jpg

Abraham Gutierrez

How is your agency using drones? Share your photos with us at editor@police1.com for a chance to be featured in a future Photo of the Week!

PUBLIC SAFETY DRONES AND DFR PROGRAMS
Irving PD’s drones beat officers to the scene in over half of calls — and as civilian drone use grows, the agency is investing in tools to detect and manage airspace threats
Stay informed on FAA drone waivers and regulations transforming public safety operations, including DFR advancements and the latest BVLOS innovations
In 2024, the agency’s DFR program had over 1,700 calls for service, with units first on scene for 72% of calls with an average response time of 70 seconds
Drones are an escalating threat to stadiums, concerts and public gatherings — but law enforcement faces legal roadblocks. Here’s how multi-layered drone detection technology helps track, identify and stop bad actors
With response times under a minute, real-time intelligence and a focus on de-escalation, Montgomery County’s Drone as First Responder program is redefining public safety
This pocket-sized reconnaissance drone is designed for real-time surveillance in high-risk operations, even in extreme weather conditions

Every week, we select a Photo of the Week from a Police1 member to feature in our Member Newsletter, Police1’s Instagram page and Police1’s YouTube channel. Photos range from cruisers to copters to K-9s, and everything in between.

The next time you come across something inspiring on duty, take out the camera and submit it to Police1! Remember to include your name, department information and some background on the picture!