Public Safety

In this webinar, Jakee and Sujoy shared that multi-drone operations are now live and rolling out to agencies, enabling one pilot to operate up to four drones and fundamentally changing how DFR programs scale. The focus wasn’t just the feature, but the impact: reducing pilot staffing needs, lowering program costs, and increasing flexibility to handle overlapping or simultaneous incidents. They walked through how it works in Remote Flight Deck, how autonomy and deconfliction make it manageable, and the real-world ways agencies are using it today, from transitioning between calls to maintaining continuous coverage. They also covered the FAA path, which requires a new but familiar agency-level waiver, supported by documentation to streamline approval.

This webinar outlines how public safety agencies can prepare drone operations for FIFA World Cup security. Skydio and Las Vegas Metro PD share practical lessons from large-scale events: stress-test and build redundancy into connectivity, formalize pre-event plans (ConOps, staffing, communications, safety, and regulatory coordination), and use drone-based 2D/3D site mapping to plan perimeters, resources, and response strategies before venues become “temporary cities.” The session also covers staffing models for sustained operations, simulator-based pilot training with Skydio Paraverse, proactive community education to reduce rogue drone incursions, and how to secure the right FAA approvals and TFR access in advance to ensure uninterrupted operations during match days.

Episode 7 looks back on the rapid growth of public safety BVLOS in 2025, then resets the conversation around how agencies can successfully request and operate under a Part 91 BVLOS waiver today. Jakee Stoltz from the Skydio Regulatory Team explains what has changed in the FAA’s process since early 2025, how 200’ and 400’ waivers differ in real-world use, and what agencies need to submit to move through approvals smoothly. The session also covers how BVLOS works in controlled airspace, what it takes to operate near airports and zero grids, and how teams should think about training, airspace awareness, and operational responsibility under Part 91. The discussion wraps with practical guidance on airspace authorizations, common questions from agencies at different stages, and how to move forward now while keeping an eye on future rulemaking.

Commander Tom Maguire explains how San Francisco’s Real Time Investigation Center uses a “team of teams” approach, combining skilled officers with tools like automated license plate readers, Skydio drone-as-first-responder systems, cameras, and analytics to support short-staffed patrol units, respond faster, and act with more precision. By centralizing drone operations and ALPR in the RTIC, they can quickly identify suspect vehicles and people, coordinate plainclothes and patrol responses, and avoid unnecessary pursuits or stops, which improves safety, reduces use-of-force risk, and builds stronger cases for prosecutors. He highlights dramatic crime reductions, including about a 44% drop in auto theft and a roughly 74% drop in auto burglary over two years, attributing those results to both technology and the people using it well. Real examples include catching organized retail thieves, stopping auto burglary crews in tourist areas, and intercepting armed suspects in stolen cars by quietly disabling vehicles and guiding low-key arrests. Maguire stresses that agencies of any size can start small with a computer, radio, a few motivated people, and basic tech, then scale up, and he notes growing national and international interest in this model as departments look to modernize public safety while minimizing collateral harm.

Discover how San Mateo, CA turned Drone as First Responder (DFR) from concept to reality. In this fireside chat, Phil Gonshak (Skydio, former Chief of Police and County Manager) sits down with San Mateo City Manager Alex Khojikian to unpack how the city built trust with council, aligned police and civic leaders, and secured community support for a cutting-edge DFR program. From slashing response times to addressing privacy and funding concerns head-on, this session delivers real-world strategies any city can adapt.

Hosted by Phil Gonshak with Mayor Lily Wu and Chief Joe Sullivan, the webinar showcased how Wichita is turning its aviation DNA into a modern public safety advantage with Skydio. In 2024 the city bought six Skydio X10s and launched pilot training with Wichita State University. By 2025 it had three docks, three training classes, and twenty-nine certified pilots, with full DFR going live from the Real-Time Information Center. Sullivan emphasized hard-won FAA compliance, a public flight-transparency dashboard, and a deliberate de-escalation mindset, using drones to get eyes on barricaded suspects, guide officers into large events like Riverfest, find missing children, and even curb property crime by preventing dangerous pursuits. Wu framed the effort as part of a broader smart city vision, with innovation grounded in research partnerships such as WSU and WSU Tech, and community trust built through upfront engagement. Looking ahead, Wichita is expanding Drone as First Responder beyond policing to fire, public works, and infrastructure inspections, treating drones as citywide infrastructure rather than a single-department tool. The program’s cross-department collaboration, including docks on fire stations and RTIC interns from WSU, lowers costs while raising capability, creating a transparent, data-driven model other cities can copy. The throughline is simple and compelling: pair autonomy with accountability, use data to earn buy-in, and scale responsibly, from today’s rapid response and scene assessment to tomorrow’s payload missions like Narcan delivery, so Wichita can respond faster, act smarter, and keep its community safer without sacrificing trust.

In Episode 5 of Skydio’s Regulatory Series, Jakee Stoltz from Skydio’s Regulatory Team shared the latest on FAA approvals for public safety agencies operating drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS)—with special focus on the growing number of 400-foot waivers. What was once a slow and complex process is now being streamlined, with 200-foot approvals averaging just five days and 400-foot approvals coming through in as little as 21 days. Joining Jakee were Sergeant Jay Kemme and Sergeant Ben Miller of the Cincinnati Police Department, who detailed their four-year journey to launching a rooftop drone program now covering 90% of the city. They were joined by Travis Scott, VP of Commercial Sales at Dedrone by Axon, who spoke to the importance of radar-based detect-and-avoid systems in achieving safe and scalable DFR (Drone as First Responder) operations. Together, the panel shared key insights into waiver strategies, rooftop deployment, airspace deconfliction, and lessons learned for agencies looking to scale quickly and safely.

Led by grant expert Kathy Wood in partnership with Skydio, this webinar provides practical strategies for securing funding to launch or expand Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs. It outlines key federal, state, and local grant opportunities, emphasizes the importance of community collaboration and consistent outreach, and shares case studies of successful grant-funded DFR initiatives. Kathy also offers tips on grant layering, using nonprofit partners to unlock funding, and positioning your program for sustainability. The session highlights Skydio’s support through its “Skydio for All” community engagement program, the Axon SkySwap initiative, and grant writing assistance via [email protected].