Coral Springs cops to deploy drones for faster emergency response. What to know

Coral Springs first responders will soon have new eyes in the sky after the City Commission approved a $465,436 contract to expand the Police Department’s Drone First Responder Program.

Police Chief Brad Mock says the drones should reach any location in the city within 30 to 40 seconds.

FULL STORY: New drones to give first responders eyes on-scene in seconds, Coral Springs cops say

Here are key takeaways:

• The City Commission approved the money last week to expand the program, with drones and docks stationed at police headquarters and two fire stations to give first responders citywide aerial coverage in 30 to 40 seconds.
• Mock highlighted drowning cases as a key use, saying aerial views can locate children in pools faster than ground searches. “The higher we get, the more elevation we have, the faster we can see things,” he said.
• Drones will also be deployed for critical incidents, in-progress crimes, fleeing suspects and missing person cases, Mock said.
• Funding comes from forfeiture funds — assets seized during investigations and prosecutions — and a grant program. The drones will be purchased through the department’s existing agreement with Axon.
• The expansion adds to Coral Springs Police Department surveillance capabilities, which were previously bolstered by a state grant for Flock license plate readers.

This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists.