Taking ight From the cover
The cost
The overview
The drones are a cheaper alternative to a helicop- ter but offer similar benefits. A helicopter could cost anywhere between $7 million to $10 million for the aircraft alone and millions additionally every year for maintenance and fuel, Criminal Investigations Division Lt. Evan Mattei said. “Though a valuable asset to public safety, a manned air program has largely been a luxury for larger departments,” Mattei said in an email. “Through a DFR program, citizens of Frisco will receive the same value as they would from a manned aerial program for a fraction of the cost with a much faster response.” The goal of the drones is to provide faster
Frisco crimes reported per 1,000 residents
The Frisco Police Department will launch six drones as a rst responder, or DFR, in May. The drone technology will allow rst responders to assess situations through the high-de nition camera and thermal radar before sending human rst responders. The drone, which is provided by security company Flock Safety, can be deployed on average in two minutes and can act as “eyes on the scene” from the air, said Sgt. Ryan Thomas, who works for the Frisco PD’s community services division, in an email. Frisco City Council approved $427,500 for the program to be reimbursed through a grant from the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority. The group has provided grants for other municipalities to implement the new technology, including Prosper, which was the rst in Texas to use drones as a rst responder. Frisco is providing a matching amount of $39,660. “It is important to note that our Drone as First Responder (DFR) program is still cutting-edge and relatively new, but it has already seen great success,” Thomas said. “We are proud to be one of the rst agencies in Collin and Denton counties to implement this program.”
15
10
5
0
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
SOURCE: FRISCO POLICE DEPARTMENT/COMMUNITY IMPACT
service to incident calls. Drones can launch from their sites in about 90 seconds and provide real-time aerial views to combat crime, said Paris Lewbel, Flock Safety’s public relations manager.
A closer look
Prosper
The Frisco Police Department currently has 18 Federal Aviation Administration- certified pilots to operate the drones. Drones must be flown with a horizon- fixed camera view and only record video relevant to the call response, Mattei said. The drone can respond within a 3.5-mile radius of its docking site. In Frisco, those docking sites are not yet finalized, but the preliminary locations have been outlined as shown in the map.
380
Frisco
2
ELDORADO PKWY.
Getting the drones
MAIN ST.
3 potential launch sites
6 drones
3
423
Frisco Police Department 3.5-mile area of service Frisco Fire Station No. 10 Frisco Fire Station No. 8
1
$427,500 grant
$39,660 city funds
1 2 3
DNT TOLL
Plano
SOURCE: CITY OF FRISCO COMMUNITY IMPACT
SRT TOLL
MAP NOT TO SCALE N
SOURCE: FRISCO POLICE DEPARTMENT/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Thank you, Frisco! Check out our 50% OFF clearance inventory now through January 31st
- Todd Shevlin, Owner “We’re not your typical consignment store, come see for yourself”
Grand opening First Time Clients receive a LongevityFX Circuit for $25 for $25
When refreshing your home, consign your preowned designer furniture to us to help make room for your new furnishings.
Circuit Includes: Whole Body Cryotherapy, Red Light Therapy Bed, Infrared Sauna, Vibration Therapy
COME VISIT ME AT MY NEW LOCATION IN THE CENTRE AT PRESTON RIDGE!
*Exp Date 2/28/26
6750 Gaylord Pkwy #136, Frisco lightheatcryo.com | 469-777-4936
3333 Preston Road, #112 • Frisco, TX 75034 • 469-543-2818 • TheConsignerie.com
26
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Powered by FlippingBook