Minnetonka Police Department Announces Drones as First Responders Program
The first DFR program in the state of Minnesota aims to enhance emergency response, improve officer safety and increase community transparency.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 11, 2025
The Minnetonka Police Department announces the expansion of its current drone program to Minnesota’s first Drones as First Responders (DFR) program, a cutting-edge initiative that uses unmanned aerial systems to respond to emergency calls and assist public safety efforts in real time.
This program places the Minnetonka Police Department at the forefront of public safety innovation, using technology to enhance response times, reduce safety risks to officers and provide real-time situational awareness during rapidly evolving incidents.
“We are committed to using every tool available to make our community safer, and this DFR program does exactly that,” said Scott Boerboom, Minnetonka Chief of Police. “By deploying drones to calls within moments, we can assess situations faster, send the right resources and help protect both the public and our officers.”
The DFR program will dispatch drones, provided by Skydio, a U.S. drone manufacturer, from fixed launch points located throughout the city to emergency calls, such as missing persons, fire emergencies, or in-progress crimes, ahead of responding units. The drones provide real-time, live video footage to officers and command staff, offering a critical “eyes on scene” advantage before personnel arrive. In cities where similar programs have been piloted:
- Average response times decreased by 2-5 minutes
- Drones resolved incidents without an in-person officer response for 25% of calls
- Officers can assess calls from a secure distance, resulting in improved officer safety
The department has also implemented strict policies and oversight to ensure the DFR program operates with complete transparency and respect for privacy rights. Drone flights are limited to public safety calls for service as defined by Minnesota state statute, cannot be used for random patrols or surveillance and all video is logged and audited on a public-facing dashboard.
To officially launch the program, the Minnetonka Police Department will be hosting a media event at the Minnetonka Police Department (14600 Minnetonka Blvd.) on Monday, August 25 at 8 a.m. There will be remarks from city and department leaders, followed by live DFR flight simulations and a Q&A session. City and department leaders will also be available for interviews and additional questions at the end of the Q&A session.
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Contact:
Jessica Case
Communications Specialist
Minnetonka Police
612-409-1160
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