Palm Springs Police Department drone program taking flight

The Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs goal is to enhance public safety in Palm Springs.

The DFR program, recently approved, is a concept where drones are strategically placed on rooftops throughout cities, William Hutchinson, Palm Springs Lieutenant explained.

"You have a team listening to 911 calls coming in," Hutchinson said. "Those operators are sending these drones from those rooftops in real time, oftentimes on scene before first responders.

He said the Palm Springs Police Department is currently installing a radar system throughout the city that will help officers monitor the airspace.

"The drones will be placed at three locations throughout the city of Palm Springs," Hutchinson said. "They will come out of a docking station and they will respond to an emergency in progress."

He said the department is still working on the North location.

The other 2 drones will be placed at the Palm Springs Convention Center and at a business in South Palm Springs Smoke Tree corridor.

Hutchinson said Palm Springs is the first city in the Coachella Valley to implement this program.

He said they're working closely with the the FAA locally, the FAA in Washington, D.C. and the local airport authority to outline a map of where drones can and cannot go.

It comes at a time where first responders say drones are revolutionizing emergency response by providing crucial aerial support and real-time information.

Palm Springs Lieutenant Hutchinson answers News Channel 3's questions about the program

What about privacy concerns?

"There's no facial recognition on the drones. The drones are not weaponized. They are not collecting personal data," Hutchinson said. "We are seeing video and streaming that video live."

He said if officers see something relevant, they can record.

"We are taking the best safety measures that we can in accordance with Department of Justice standards to make sure any data that we do capture is stored correctly," Hutchinson said.

What about training?

Any officers interested in becoming drone pilots have the opportunity, but must pass their Part 107 FAA license to learn and understand the rules and regulations in the sky.

"We have our own in-house training that we've created," Hutchinson said. "We sent a team to Texas for two weeks to adopt a program out there that's very successful."

The department has already held its first 40 hour class for some pilots.

Stay with News Channel 3 to learn more about how soon you'll see PSP's program in action.