Canadian police force potentially pioneering the deployment of drones for specific 911 emergency responses.
Peel Regional Police in Ontario are planning to revolutionize emergency response by deploying drones as first responders for certain 911 calls, a move that could make them the first police service in Canada to do so. This initiative aims to reduce response times and provide officers with real-time information before they arrive on scene.
The specific call types under consideration for drone deployment include in-progress incidents such as break and enters, missing vulnerable persons, and auto thefts. However, these call types are still being finalized as part of the planning and regulatory review phase. The police force intends to start with a limited pilot program to assess operational value, cost, and community impact, and the implementation will be guided by privacy protections including a Privacy Impact Assessment and community consultations.
The VPD has already been utilizing drones extensively, with over 1,826 missions in 2024 alone. One of their drones played a pivotal role in capturing murder suspect Brendan Colin McBride, who was found on Habitat Island by the police drone.
The aim of the initiative is to provide officers with real-time information, potentially reducing response times and enhancing emergency response efforts. Only 5% of the VPD's drone recordings are preserved, and they must be connected to a crime.
The use of drones for emergency response is not a new concept in Canada. Several police forces, including in Halton Region and Peel, currently utilize drones for search and rescue cases, collision reconstruction, tactical operations, and disaster response. In June, an Ontario Provincial Police drone was instrumental in finding a three-year-old Quebec girl who was the subject of a frantic four-day search in both provinces.
Peel Regional Police Deputy Chief Anthony Odoardi reiterated that their drones won't be used for general surveillance or facial recognition technology. The force is committed to advancing technology to better support their communities and equip officers with tools for enhanced emergency response efforts. VPD Supt. Don Chapman stated that their drones are critical to daily policing.
No precise timeline for the pilot or full rollout has been provided yet. The initiative, if successful, could set a precedent for other police services in Canada to adopt similar technologies. The Peel Regional Police Deputy Chief, Anthony Odoardi, stated that the initiative would make them one of, if not the first police service in Canada, to use drone technology in this capacity.
The Peel Regional Police aims to leverage drone technology for emergency response, fitting into their plans for certain 911 calls, such as in-progress incidents, missing vulnerable persons, and auto thefts. Emulating the success of the Vancouver Police Department (VPD), the Peel force intends to use this technology to provide officers with real-time information, potentially enhancing emergency response efforts.
