Public Safety
# Community Engagement
# DFR
# Drone
# Drone as First Responder
# Wichita Police Department
Citywide Drone Response in Action - Lessons From Wichita
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.
Lily Wu, Joe Sullivan & Phil Gonshak · Sep 3rd, 2025
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Jakee Stoltz, Travis Scott, Jay Kemme & 1 more speaker · Aug 12th, 2025
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.
# BVLOS
# DFR
# Part 107
# Part 91
# Public Safety
# Regulatory
Kathy Wood & Noreen Charlton · Jul 22nd, 2025
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].
# Axon
# DFR
# Drone
# Drone as First Responder
# Grants
# Public Safety
Noreen Charlton & Anthony Riccardi · Jun 26th, 2025
In this on-demand session, Noreen Charlton, Public Safety Strategy Lead at Skydio, is joined by Lieutenant Anthony Riccardi of the San Mateo Police Department to walk through how to launch and scale a Drone as First Responder (DFR) program using real call-for-service data.
The webinar outlines the full progression from single-drone deployments to fully operational dock-based DFR systems, emphasizing how public safety agencies can take a crawl-walk-run approach. Riccardi shares San Mateo’s rapid advancement through these stages and the tactical advantages of remote and autonomous operations.
The session reinforces DFR’s value not just for law enforcement, but as a citywide infrastructure asset—supporting fire, public works, and other civic missions.
# DFR
# Drone
# Drone as First Responder
# Public Safety
# Skydio Dock
Jakee Stoltz · Jun 10th, 2025
The FAA’s new Part 91 BVLOS waiver process opened the door to faster approvals—but what exactly does the waiver allow, and where are the limits? In this session, regulatory expert Jakee Stoltz will walk you through the real-world permissions, constraints, and operational details of the new Certificate of Waiver (COW). From altitudes and airspace to visual observer requirements and beyond, you’ll get a clear understanding of how to maximize your operations while staying fully compliant.
# BVLOS
# DFR
# Drone
# Drone as First Responder
# First Responders
# Part 91
# Part 107
# Regulatory
# UAS
Phil Gonshak, Kabe Termes & Vern Sallee · May 15th, 2025
In this fireside chat, Phil Gonshak of Skydio hosts a discussion with public safety drone pioneers Vern Sallee of Axon and Kabe Termes of Skydio. They reflect on the origins of the Drone as First Responder (DFR) program at Chula Vista Police Department, the public-private partnerships that enabled it, and the regulatory and community transparency challenges they overcame. The conversation explores how DFR has evolved from early rooftop operations to today’s autonomous, dock-based deployments powered by Skydio’s X10 drones and Axon’s integrated ecosystem. They highlight the shift from drone programs as tactical tools to scalable infrastructure that supports multiple city functions, and the unique advantages of the Skydio-Axon partnership in reliability, real-time awareness, and policy-compliant deployment. The session concludes with audience Q&A on COA processes, community engagement, rural connectivity, and Skydio's roadmap for scaling drone use across public safety and beyond.
# BVLOS
# DFR
# Drone
# Drone as First Responder
# First Responders
# Public Safety
# Remote Operations
# Skydio Dock
Jakee Stoltz · Apr 16th, 2025
FAA policy for public safety is shifting fast—and it just got a lot easier to start or scale your Drone as First Responder (DFR) program. The FAA has created a new waiver process for public safety operations - offering a streamlined path to obtaining a Part 91 BVLOS Certificate of Waiver (COW). The process cuts approval times in half, offers a path to fly above UAS Facility Map altitudes, and doesn’t even require a CAPS application! Join regulatory expert Jakee Stoltz as he breaks down exactly how the new process works and what it means for your agency.
Whether you’re launching a new program or expanding advanced operations, this session will give you the clarity and confidence to navigate the latest FAA process updates.
# BVLOS
# DFR
# Drone
# Drone as First Responder
# FAA
# FAA Policy
# First Responders
# Part 107
# Part 91
# Public Safety
# Regulatory
Angad Singh & Bryan King · Mar 19th, 2025
In this webinar, public safety experts explored how Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs are transforming law enforcement operations by reducing response times, enhancing situational awareness, and improving resource allocation.
Real-world examples from agencies like NYPD, Las Vegas Metro PD, and OKCPD showcase how drones arrive first on scene, providing officers with critical, live-streamed aerial views before they step out of their vehicles. Speakers also covered the financial impact of DFR, including cost savings on dispatches and air support, as well as key steps for launching or expanding a program. The session concluded with an engaging live demo, demonstrating DFR technology in action.
# DFR
# Drone
# First Responders
# Patrol-Led DFR
# Public Safety
# Remote Operations
# Skydio Dock
# Live Demo
Rich Gatanis & Bryan King · Dec 16th, 2024
In this live discussion, Rich is joined by Bryan King, a Solutions Engineer at Skydio. Together, they’ll walk through critical response scenarios like the one above and discuss their approach to assisting the communities impacted by Hurricane Milton.
This session covers:
- Neutralizing ignition risks: How teams prevented potential fire and explosion hazards caused by flammable vapor releases.
- Situational awareness without exposure: Relieving on remote assessments is the new standard to make informed decisions without exposing personnel to unnecessary danger, even in unstable or toxic environments.
- Seamless interagency communication: Understand how teams used live-streamed aerial views to coordinate communication with precision in real-time.
- Reduced impact on the community: Essential gasoline supplies were made available within hours, keeping relief efforts on track and the community stable during the crisis.
Join Rich and Bryan, seasoned professionals with over 40+ years of experience in public safety and emergency response to get answers to questions from the front lines.
# DFR
# First Responders
# Fire
# Public Safety
# Skydio 3D Scan
Jakee Stoltz · Dec 11th, 2024
# DFR
# First Responders
# Patrol-Led DFR
# Public Safety
# Regulatory
# Remote Operations
Jakee Stoltz · Oct 29th, 2024
Join our expert-led webinar to delve into the groundbreaking FAA waiver granted to the NYPD, enabling Drone as First Responder (DFR) operations across 85% of New York City. Discover how this innovative solution improves response times, enhances officer safety, and delivers real-time situational awareness in complex urban settings.
Gain valuable insights into how agencies like the NYPD are leveraging drones for shielded and non-shielded operations without visual observers. Hear from our industry expert, Jakee Stoltz, as he share details about the approval process, safety protocols, and strategies for scaling drone operations.
Explore answers to common questions through an interactive Q&A session, providing practical advice for agencies looking to start or expand their own drone programs.
Whether you're at the beginning stages or seeking to scale, this webinar offers the knowledge and tools needed to deploy drones safely and effectively.
# First Responders
# Public Safety
# Regulatory
# Remote Operations
# Skydio Dock