Image Credit: Chattanooga Police Department / Facebook & Canva.
Article by Tennessee Conservative News Staff –
With preliminary testing completed, the Chattanooga Police Department has launched a new Drone First Responder Pilot Program that aims to give emergency personnel a look at emergency situations before they ever arrive.
According to a release from the Chattanooga Police Department, two drones have been docked at two Chattanooga Fire Department stations. When a 911 call or other police-generated call comes in, they can be launched remotely from CPD’s Real Time Intelligence Center to the site of the emergency.
Once the drones arrive on the scene, they can transmit live video back to give officers a better idea of what the situation involves.
Police Chief John Chambers says the drones can provide officers with important information prior to their arrival, allowing them to be better prepared to handle the situation.
“Technology like our Drone First Responder pilot program serves as a force multiplier, providing officers critical information before they arrive on scene and helping them respond more safely and effectively,” Chambers said.
Chambers says the locations of the two drones were selected based on where violent crime is most prevalent. The drones are authorized by the FAA to fly in a three mile radius from their respective docks.
In addition to providing preliminary emergency information to police, the drones can also be used to assist with missing persons, disaster assessment, and other necessary operations where lives may be at risk.
CPD has stated that drones will not be used for regular police patrol or random surveillance. Their policy also prohibits officers from utilizing the drones for purposes that are not related to law enforcement.
In an attempt to provide transparency to Chattanooga residents, CPD has launched an online platform where the public can view flight maps, dates, and times, as well as the types of call that prompt a drone launch.
As the new program goes into full effect within city limits, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office will be adding drones to its fleet.
The County Commission approved the purchase in their Wednesday night meeting at the request of Sheriff Austin Garrett.
According to Garrett, the County previously had up to 26 drones in use but the Department is now down to eight. The drones are used for missing persons searches, fugitive location, and disaster assessment.
Residents expressed concern that increasing the number of drones would lead to privacy issues.
Garrett argued that federal laws that regulate the use of drones would prevent that from happening and the drones are necessary for them to do their jobs effectively and efficiently.
“We would be crippled as a law enforcement agency if we didn’t have this technology, any agency in Hamilton County would be. To give an example, if we have a missing person we may have to call out 25 deputies out on overtime, expending resources where this keeps us from doing that,” Garrett said.
Funds for the new drones will come from the Sheriff’s Department operating budget.
Sources:
https://www.wdef.com/commission-approves-of-drone-purchase-for-the-hamilton-county-sheriffs-office
https://www.chattanoogan.com/2026/8/26/522529/Chattanooga-Police-Departments-Drone.aspx
https://chattanooga.gov/services/police/drone-first-responder-pilot-program
https://dashboard.liveops.brincdrones.com/ChattanoogaTN/flights
