Scenes from a demonstration flight of the Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program at Orlando Police Department, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The 11 Skydio X10 drones are serviced by 9 permanent docking stations around the city that will be used for immediate response to emergency calls. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Read more Orlando police the latest agency to use drones as first responders
A drone takes flight during a demonstration by Lt. Brian Donohue, background, of the Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program at Orlando Police Department, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The Skydio X10 drone is one in a fleet of 11 serviced by 9 permanent docking stations around the city that will be used for immediate response to emergency calls. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando Police drone pilot Officer Todd Montford navigates from the OPD Control Center during a demonstration of the Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program at Orlando Police Department, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The 11 Skydio X10 drones are serviced by 9 permanent docking stations around the city that will be used for immediate response to emergency calls. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith and Mayor Buddy Dyer prepare to watch a demonstration of the Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program at Orlando Police Department, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The 11 Skydio X10 drones are serviced by 9 permanent docking stations around the city that will be used for immediate response to emergency calls. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
A drone takes flight during a demonstration by Lt. Brian Donohue, background, of the Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program at Orlando Police Department, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The Skydio X10 drone is one in a fleet of 11 serviced by 9 permanent docking stations around the city that will be used for immediate response to emergency calls. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando Police drone pilot Officer Todd Montford shows the flight controller during a demonstration of the Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program at Orlando Police Department, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The 11 Skydio X10 drones are serviced by 9 permanent docking stations around the city that will be used for immediate response to emergency calls. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith and Mayor Buddy Dyer prepare to watch a demonstration of the Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program at Orlando Police Department, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The 11 Skydio X10 drones are serviced by 9 permanent docking stations around the city that will be used for immediate response to emergency calls. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando Police debut the Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program at Orlando Police Department, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The drone that flew Wednesday is one in a fleet of 11 Skydio X10 drones serviced by 9 permanent docking stations around the city that will be used for immediate response to emergency calls. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando Police drone pilot Officer Todd Montford navigates from the OPD Control Center during a demonstration of the Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program at Orlando Police Department, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The 11 Skydio X10 drones are serviced by 9 permanent docking stations around the city that will be used for immediate response to emergency calls. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith delivers remarks during the debut of the Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program at Orlando Police Department, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The 11 Skydio X10 drones are serviced by 9 permanent docking stations around the city that will be used for immediate response to emergency calls. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
A drone takes flight during a demonstration by Lt. Brian Donohue, background, of the Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program at Orlando Police Department, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The Skydio X10 drone is one in a fleet of 11 serviced by 9 permanent docking stations around the city that will be used for immediate response to emergency calls. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando Police drone pilot Officer Todd Montford navigates from the OPD Control Center during a demonstration of the Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program at Orlando Police Department, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The 11 Skydio X10 drones are serviced by 9 permanent docking stations around the city that will be used for immediate response to emergency calls. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando Police Capt. Cindy Lane delivers remarks during the debut of the Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program at Orlando Police Department, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The 11 Skydio X10 drones are serviced by 9 permanent docking stations around the city that will be used for immediate response to emergency calls. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith delivers remarks during the debut of the Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program at Orlando Police Department, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The 11 Skydio X10 drones are serviced by 9 permanent docking stations around the city that will be used for immediate response to emergency calls. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer prepares to watch a demonstration of the Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program at Orlando Police Department, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The 11 Skydio X10 drones are serviced by 9 permanent docking stations around the city that will be used for immediate response to emergency calls. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
A drone takes flight during a demonstration by Lt. Brian Donohue, background, of the Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program at Orlando Police Department, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The Skydio X10 drone is one in a fleet of 11 serviced by 9 permanent docking stations around the city that will be used for immediate response to emergency calls. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
A drone takes flight during a demonstration by Lt. Brian Donohue, background, of the Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program at Orlando Police Department, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The Skydio X10 drone is one in a fleet of 11 serviced by 9 permanent docking stations around the city that will be used for immediate response to emergency calls. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer prepares to watch a demonstration of the Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program at Orlando Police Department, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The 11 Skydio X10 drones are serviced by 9 permanent docking stations around the city that will be used for immediate response to emergency calls. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
1 of 17
A drone takes flight during a demonstration by Lt. Brian Donohue, background, of the Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program at Orlando Police Department, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The Skydio X10 drone is one in a fleet of 11 serviced by 9 permanent docking stations around the city that will be used for immediate response to emergency calls. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Expand