Foley Police Department is preparing to deploy drones as first responders under a new technology initiative approved by Foley City Council, giving officers a faster way to assess emergency scenes before arriving.

The program, developed through a partnership with Skydio, a U.S.-based drone manufacturer, will integrate aerial technology into the department’s emergency response system. According to a news release from the department, the goal is to provide officers and dispatchers with a view of an incident within seconds of an emergency call.

When certain emergency calls come in, a Skydio drone will launch from a station within the city and fly autonomously to the incident’s GPS coordinates. Once on scene, the drone will transmit live video to dispatchers and responding officers, providing an early look at conditions before ground units arrive.
The department said the technology is intended to improve officer safety, reduce response times and help emergency personnel determine the resources needed at an incident.

Live video feeds could give officers critical situational awareness before they reach a scene, helping them prepare for potentially volatile situations and identify opportunities to de-escalate them. The drones are also expected to arrive faster than ground units in some situations, allowing police to assess emergencies more quickly.

The technology could also help police and fire department supervisors make informed decisions about the type and number of personnel needed at an incident. In addition, the drones could support active searches for missing people by providing an aerial view of the search area.

The department emphasized that the drones will not be used for general surveillance.

“Our program is strictly designed as an emergency response tool, solely utilized to bring real-time situational awareness and visual insight to active emergency scenes within minutes,” the department said in the release.

The initiative comes as Foley continues to grow. Police officials said the department intends to use technology to strengthen public safety while keeping residents informed as the program develops.

“We are eager to bring this program to the City of Foley,” the department said. “As we move forward with this project, we remain committed to transparency and look forward to sharing further updates with our community as development progresses.”

The department added that it will continue working to provide the people and technology needed to protect residents and their families.