LVMPD drones cut emergency response time to 85 seconds

Emergency responders in the Las Vegas Valley now receive aerial support within minutes of a 911 call. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reported an average drone response time of 85 seconds during a recent media briefing on its operations.

Metro police have shifted its aerial unit from mobile, vehicle-based launches to a network of fixed locations called skyports. The department currently manages 38 docked drones situated at 12 sites across the city. These aircraft are monitored and deployed from a central drone operations center.

The system allows officers to view live overhead footage before arriving at a scene. Lt. Shallenberger noted that this intelligence helps officers understand the environment they are entering. He explained that a drone arrives at the scene shortly after a call is placed, providing immediate visual data to ground units.

The fleet includes the Skydio X10 model, which features a parachute system and an attachable spotlight. This specific drone model can remain airborne for 20 to 25 minutes per flight.

Metro logged 25,000 drone flights in the current year, placing the agency among the largest municipal operators in the country. While the technology aids in tracking suspects, officials emphasized its role in search and rescue missions.

In a recent incident in Summerlin, a missing elderly man walked into the desert. Drone operators searched the area and located the man lying motionless just as the team prepared to swap batteries on their final flight. Officers and medical staff were guided to his exact location by the aerial unit. LVMPD officials stated that the man would likely not have survived had he not been found in time.

The department has shared video footage of the Summerlin rescue on its social media channels to illustrate the program's capabilities.