Drones: Fast, Affordable and Flexible


There is no doubt that drones, aka unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs, are doing more jobs in airborne law enforcement than ever before. There’s a good reason for this: drones cost less to fly than helicopters.


“Agencies and departments are under pressure to do more with less, with smaller budgets, fewer personnel, and rising expectations,” said Jason LaFond, customer success manager for public safety at Skydio, a drone manufacturer. “This fact has driven rapid adoption of drones, particularly autonomous flight


68 May/June 2025


systems, because they offer helicopter- like capabilities at a fraction of the cost.” LaFond is also a former NYPD detective with 18 years of experience, so he understands law enforcement’s needs.


“Today, drones are being used as first responders, enabling officers to respond with complete visibility in high-risk situations, often facilitating de-escalation,” noted Wayne Baker, director of stakeholder engagement at DJI, another drone manufacturer. “For example, drones enable officers to plan safer approaches for themselves and suspects in high-risk situations.”


Mike Bucari is senior manager of marketing in the Americas at Leonardo Helicopters, which manufactures drones and helicopters. “Drones are becoming more popular due to their relatively low cost, versatility, and ability to provide real-time surveillance,” Bucari said, agreeing with LaFond and Baker. “Today, small-size multirotors are widely used for surveillance, crowd monitoring, search and rescue operations, traffic monitoring, and even in pursuit situations. Drones also allow for the deployment of specialized equipment like thermal imaging cameras, which aid in search operations and tracking suspects at night.“


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