For years, DJI has been a preferred choice for U.S. public safety agencies—and with good reason. The reliability and robustness of DJI’s drone platforms have helped numerous public safety agencies save lives and protect first responders, whether by responding to 911 calls, locating missing children, or enhancing officer safety during SWAT situations. Here’s just one of their stories.
Luis Figueiredo is a Detective based in New Jersey. He is a pioneer in the use of drones for public safety and the driving force behind the Elizabeth Police Department's drone unit. In this episode of “On The Road”, Luis speaks to DJI’s Wayne Baker about the use of drones in responding to major incidents and the impact of legislation on public safety drone programs in the U.S.
Key takeaways from the interview:
- Drone use in major incidents: One of the incidents Detective Figueiredo discusses was a severe ship fire at the Port of Newark which led to the tragic loss of two firefighters. The fire was challenging to handle due to its intensity and the extreme heat inside the ship, making it too dangerous for personnel to enter and assess the situation directly. Instead, a drone equipped with a thermal camera was used to monitor the fire’s progression from outside by tracking heat signatures on the ship’s exterior. This technology allowed responders to estimate interior temperatures and locate the fire’s position, providing crucial information without risking more lives.
- On managing drone data security: Detective Figueiredo explains how concerns over data security can be managed. Operators worried about data being transmitted to unauthorized locations can simply turn off data services and operate the drone without internet connectivity. This approach is sufficient for most municipal or state-level users who aren’t involved in national security activities.
- On ongoing drone legislation: If legislation were passed to ban DJI drones, it would effectively end drone programs like Detective Figueiredo’s as agencies would not be able to afford to switch to alternative technology. Even if they could make the switch, the capabilities and expectations of their current program would suffer significantly. The impact wouldn't be limited to police and fire departments; it would also affect other industries, such as photography and surveying, where many rely on consumer-grade drones. Banning DJI drones would therefore disrupt multiple fields that depend on this technology.
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A Note from DJI
DJI supports the creation of grant programs that empower greater public safety use of drone technologies, but restricting first responders’ access to the best products in the market - solely based on protectionist politics and unsubstantiated allegations - will only hinder their operations and damage the drone programs they have built and strengthened over time.
What is clear is the critical need for public safety agencies to maintain access to the best products available to them. They need to be able to rely on the drone platforms they bring to critical operations. As such, to achieve a secure, competitive and thriving U.S. drone ecosystem, we advocate for:
- The establishment of industry-wide drone security standards that are technology-based (not country of origin-based)
- Retaining drone operators’ freedom to choose the best drone platform that serves their operational needs
- A free, open and competitive marketplace
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For more, watch the full video above or view our series: Get The Facts.