Denver Police Quietly Launch Crime-Fighting Drone Program, Raising Transparency Concerns
The Denver Police Department has quietly rolled out a new crime-fighting tool: drones deployed as first-responders. The pilot program, first reported by Denver7, uses two Skydio X10 drones and rooftop docking stations at DPD headquarters on Cherokee Street. Since launching in mid-October, the drones have already responded to 215 emergency calls within a two-nautical-mile radius, with Chief Ron Thomas saying the technology is designed to “achieve quicker response times” and provide real-time intelligence to officers.
The program places Denver alongside other metro agencies like Commerce City and Castle Rock that are experimenting with Drone-as-First-Responder systems. But the rollout is drawing criticism from city leaders who say they were never informed. At-Large Councilmember Serena Gonzalez-Gutierrez — who sits on the city’s surveillance task force — said this was the first she had heard of the program and argued that residents should have been included before drones were deployed over Denver neighborhoods.
Concerns center not just on privacy but also on who is managing the technology. DPD confirmed it is working with Skydio and Flock Aerodome, the same surveillance company embroiled in controversy over automated license plate readers and a city contract extension approved behind closed doors. Gonzalez-Gutierrez said continuing to partner with Flock “is very concerning,” given ongoing disputes and community pushback surrounding the company.
Despite the criticism, DPD says early data shows promising results. According to the department, drones arrive first on scene more than 80% of the time, assist officers with critical information in 95% of missions, and have helped resolve more than 30% of calls without requiring a patrol response — freeing officers for higher-priority incidents. Pilots have used the drones to locate suspects, clear scenes, and reduce overall response times.
City leaders, however, say the benefits don’t erase the need for oversight. They want guardrails in place before the program expands — especially since drones could soon be supplemented by additional equipment from Flock Aerodome. For now, the Skydio pilot program is funded at zero cost to the city and is scheduled to run through March 2026.
“Whether the promised safety improvements outweigh community concerns is still an unanswered question,” Gonzalez-Gutierrez said.
