Olathe police adopt new initiative that allows drones to work as first responders
A new initiative at the Olathe Police Department will allow officers to use drones as “first responders,” Sgt. John Moncayo, a spokesperson for the department, said in a news release Tuesday.
The Olathe Police Department launched the drones as first responders (DFR) initiative Friday, which will allow drones to be deployed when first responders need a live view of an incident, or in situations where “sending people in immediately could increase risk,” Moncayo said.
The devices could be deployed during situations such as “fires, chemical spills, robberies, armed standoffs and searches for individuals who have fled from a crime,” Moncayo said.
He said the department adopted the initiative to “improve operational efficiency and support both citizen and officer safety.”
Drones can often arrive faster than responding officers, Moncayo said, “especially when traffic congestion or difficult access slows ground response.”
The department currently has four drones, which are placed in various locations throughout Olathe to “maximize coverage and response capability,” Moncayo said.
The drones, which won’t be armed, according to Moncayo, will be operated by trained department employees.
This story was originally published March 31, 2026 at 4:49 PM.
