The Bellingham Police Department (BPD) has launched a new Drone as First Responder (DFR) program, designed to help first responders get critical, real-time information within minutes of a 911 call.
Using small, remotely piloted drones, trained BPD officers can reach the scene of an emergency in under two minutes. The live video feed gives first responders a clear view of what is happening before units arrive, helping them make better decisions about how to respond.
“A real-time view gives us critical, accurate information to send the proper response and, in some cases, de-escalate a situation before officers arrive,” said Bellingham Police Chief Rebecca Mertzig. “It is safer for everyone involved.”
DFR drones are stationed at three locations across the city — the Bellingham Police station, the City’s Pacific Street Operations Center, and Bellis Fair mall — allowing for citywide coverage. The program supports all types of emergency response, including police, fire, EMS, and disaster management.
Transparency and privacy remain central to the program. Every flight is piloted by a trained officer, logged on a public dashboard, and flown with the camera facing the horizon until it reaches the scene. The drone does not use automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology. Video captured at incident scenes is securely stored in the same evidence system used for body worn camera footage and is accessible only to authorized BPD staff.
For more information and to view the DFR flight dashboard, visit our DFR page.
