The Prosper Police Department officially launched a first-of-its-kind Drone as First Responder (DFR) program in Texas, marking a major leap forward in the town’s public safety efforts. Through the integration of cutting-edge technology and strategic partnerships, Prosper PD is leading the way in air-based emergency response.
A New Era in Public Safety
Prosper is the first agency in the state to deploy the Flock Aerodome DFR 2.0 system, a sophisticated drone network that uses automated flight technology, Detect and Avoid (DAA) radar and integrations with Flock911 and License Plate Readers (LPR). Drones can fly up to 400 feet and reach emergency scenes in as little as 86 seconds.
“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 in an official statement. “These programs offer many of the same benefits as helicopters, enabling us to respond to critical incidents with greater precision and effectiveness, ultimately transforming our approach to public safety.”
Funded in part by the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (MVCPA) Auto Theft Reduction Grant, the program also includes patrol-based drone operations staffed by FAA-certified Prosper Police Officers. These officers use the drones to respond to calls, conduct search-and-rescue missions and provide real-time situational awareness.
With Prosper’s launch of the Flock Aerodome system, the town is ushering in a new era of proactive, tech-enabled law enforcement. “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,” Prosper Mayor David Bristol said.
How the Technology Works
The Flock Aerodome system operates through a series of automated drone docks distributed around Prosper. When an emergency call is received or an LPR alert is triggered, a drone is automatically launched and piloted by a certified officer. This aerial system allows law enforcement to gather visual evidence quickly, create perimeter surveillance and assess situations before ground units arrive.
According to Flock Safety, the program has already helped other agencies in the U.S. reduce response times by 71% and improve suspect identification rates by 89%, resolving 20% of calls without dispatching patrol vehicles.
“Many of us here are first responders ourselves, and we know that every second counts in an emergency,” said Rahul Sidhu, vice president of aviation at Flock Safety. “We’re honored to partner with Prosper PD to deploy and maintain the first Flock Aerodome DFR program in the state of Texas.”
Both the drone-as-first-responder and patrol drone programs operate under strict FAA and Town of Prosper guidelines. All operators are FAA-certified under the Part 107 Licensing Program and receive additional department-specific training.
To maintain public trust, Prosper PD logs and tracks every drone flight using specialized software. These flight records are publicly accessible and can be reviewed at any time through the Prosper Police Department’s flight dashboard.
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