Medicine Hat Police shares results of drone pilot program

Police in the southern Alberta city of Medicine Hat, have announced they are conducting a pilot project to test new remotely operated drones to support police responses.

Over three days this week, the Medicine Hat Police Service have been deploying drones from the police station to arrive at an incident before responding officers can. The belief is the drones provide officers with real-time situational awareness, allowing them to make safer and more informed decisions prior to engagement.

Police have shared results that over two days, drones conducted 19 operational flights and responded on site before officers 64% of the time. In one incident, a drone was able to follow a suspect armed with an edged weapon and direct officers to the person’s location. In another, a drone was on scene in 38 seconds over a incident response to an individual with a possible firearm.

As it is a pilot program, MHPS are clarifying that this is not a permanent addition. As for privacy concerns, police say the drones are not being used for random surveillance, only for public safety incidents, emergency responses and operational requirements.

Police will use the results to determine any potential future permanent drone program. The pilot is in partnership with drone manufacturer, Skydio.