The town of Prosper, Texas, is deploying a new aerial drone system that officials said will help to improve emergency response times and enhance public safety efforts.
The Flock Aerodome Drone as First Responder (DFR) system is being put into action by the Prosper Police Department, which serves a population of about 37,000 in the suburb of Collin and Denton counties.
The DFR system provides many of the same capabilities as a traditional police helicopter – including real-time surveillance, aerial perimeter setup, and rapid deployment – but at lower costs and with faster launch capabilities.
The system enables officers to get eyes on a scene within seconds, helping guide their response before they arrive in person, said the police department.
Once activated, the drones can reach emergency scenes in an average of 86 seconds and provide real-time video feeds to officers on their way. This enhances situational awareness, improves decision-making, and can resolve incidents without dispatching ground patrols, the town said.
Prosper cited results from similar technology deployments in other areas that have been shown to reduce response times by 71 percent and increase suspect identification by 89 percent.
The DFR system features automated drone launch stations, radar-based collision avoidance (DAA), and integration with Flock’s 911 dispatch and License Plate Reader (LPR) systems. Drones are strategically positioned at battery-swapping docks across Prosper, ready to deploy automatically and be piloted manually to service calls.
Prosper’s program also includes a patrol-based drone unit operated by FAA-certified police officers. Both the DFR and patrol drone programs are governed by strict protocols, including FAA regulations and transparency tools like a public Flight Dashboard that logs all deployments.
“By integrating these advanced drone programs into our operations, we are providing our officers with a powerful tool that significantly enhances safety and service for our community,” said Prosper Police Chief Doug Kowalski. “These programs offer many of the same benefits as helicopters, enabling us to respond to critical incidents with greater precision and effectiveness.”
Prosper Mayor David Bristol praised the initiative as a milestone in modern policing. “I am proud to support the Prosper Police Department in launching this innovative drone program,” he said. “This initiative reflects the Town Council’s unwavering commitment to investing in cutting-edge technology that not only enhances public safety but also protects our officers and ensures the well-being of our residents.”
