NASHVILLE, TN – The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) will begin testing a Drone as First Responder program next week aimed at improving emergency response capabilities in the Madison area, Police Chief John Drake announced.
The limited pilot program is scheduled to launch Tuesday, May 26, and will utilize three drones stationed on the roof of the Madison Precinct.
According to police, the drones will be available to respond within a two-mile radius of the precinct to emergency calls, active criminal investigations, missing person cases, and major traffic crashes.
Officials said the drones will be operated remotely by four FAA-certified police officers assigned to the Community Safety Center at police headquarters. The officers have completed specialized drone operation training.
The department said Drone as First Responder programs in other cities have helped officers gather real-time information before ground units arrive, allowing responding officers to better assess active situations while navigating traffic.
Police officials said five Metro Council districts fall within the program’s flight radius. Council members Jennifer Gamble, Jeff Gregg, Jeff Eslick, Tonya Hancock, and Jennifer Frensley Webb have been briefed on the trial program.
The test phase is expected to last between 30 and 45 flight days.
At the conclusion of the trial, the department said it will evaluate the collected data and release a report on the program’s effectiveness.
The drones and related equipment are being provided on loan to the department by Skydio for the duration of the pilot program.
