The City of St. Cloud has officially launched Central Florida’s first Drone as First Responder (DFR) program, introducing a major advancement in how the community responds to emergencies. The new system is designed to improve response times, increase situational awareness, and enhance safety for both residents and first responders.
While the St. Cloud Police Department has used drones for more than a decade, officers previously had to deploy them manually at emergency scenes—often slowing down response efforts. The new DFR program changes that. It currently operates with two strategically placed drone dock stations, each housing a ready-to-launch drone that can be deployed within seconds. Plans are already in motion to expand the network to four total dock stations, allowing broader coverage and even faster response times citywide.
“This Drone as First Responder program is a game-changer not only for our first responders, but for everyone in the City of St. Cloud,” said Police Chief Douglas Goerke. “We are putting eyes on an emergency scene faster than ever before, which allows us to gather life-saving information and de-escalate situations with greater precision. It’s about being smarter, faster, and safer for everyone.”
The drones will also support fire and EMS crews when needed, providing an overhead view that can enhance safety and decision-making during critical incidents. For extended situations where officers may be engaged longer than a drone’s typical battery life, additional batteries can be quickly swapped in to keep operations running. City officials say the program is fully funded, with an investment of $172,000 in hardware and an annual service cost of $63,000 to maintain and update the system.
The program uses Skydio X10 drones, an American-made, NDAA-compliant platform equipped with thermal imaging, specialized lighting, and safety parachutes. These features allow pilots to assess scenes during the day or night and relay crucial data to officers and fire personnel en route.
With real-time aerial intelligence, first responders can determine conditions before arriving—such as how many people are involved, the severity of a fire, or the direction a suspect may be fleeing. This level of detail helps responders make faster, more informed decisions and significantly enhances the ability to resolve emergencies safely.
The investment in the DFR program is projected to be $890,000 over the next five years, reflecting the city’s ongoing commitment to modernizing public safety infrastructure.
With the launch of this first-in-the-region program, St. Cloud continues to position itself as a leader in public safety innovation—bringing cutting-edge technology directly into service for the community it protects.
