VBPD has launched a Drone as First Responder (DFR) program designed to get eyes on an emergency scene in the critical minutes before an officer or first responder arrives. This page explains how the program works, the legal framework that governs it, the outcomes we're tracking, and — just as importantly — what the drones do not do.

How It Works

When a 911 call comes in for an in-progress or time-sensitive incident, a trained drone pilot can launch a drone from a rooftop or ground station near the call location. The drone typically arrives on scene in advance of ground units, giving responding officers and supervisors real-time video of the situation before they arrive. This can mean:

• Confirming whether a reported emergency is actually occurring
• Identifying hazards (fire, downed power lines, an armed subject, a crowd) before officers arrive
• Directing resources more precisely, and scaling response up or down based on what's actually happening
• Locating missing or endangered people faster
• Documenting a crash or crime scene efficiently and safely

The drone is flown by a certified, FAA-licensed remote pilot working from an operations station, in coordination with dispatch and responding units.

Legal Compliance: Virginia Code § 19.2-60.1

This program is operated in strict compliance with Virginia Code § 19.2-60.1. Under state law, our department may not use a drone for law enforcement or investigative purposes unless one of the following applies:

• A search warrant or administrative/inspection warrant authorizes it, or
• One of the specific statutory exceptions applies, including: 
  • Amber Alert, Senior Alert, or Blue Alert has been activated
  • Necessary to alleviate an immediate danger to a person
  • Documenting a traffic crash scene where a crash report is legally required, for reconstruction purposes
  • A training exercise
  • A person with legal authority over the property or situation consents to the flight

Every flight is logged with the time, location, reason for the flight, and the operator's name. Flights that do not fall within one of these authorized categories are not authorized. Flight logs are reviewed by the Technology and Analytics Bureau on a weekly basis.

Virginia law is firm that unmanned aircrafts are not permitted to be equipped with a weapon of any kind, under any circumstance.

If evidence is ever gathered outside the bounds of this law, Virginia law presumes it inadmissible in court. We take that seriously, and our program is built around avoiding that outcome entirely — not around testing its edges.

Federal Compliance: FAA BVLOS Waiver & Part 107 Certification

Beyond state law, this program operates under federal aviation authority granted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

• BVLOS Waiver. Because DFR flights routinely travel beyond what an operator can see unaided from a fixed launch point, the department operates under FAA Waiver No. 91.113-2025-00482, issued August 6th, 2025. This Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) waiver is what legally permits our drones to fly outside the pilot's direct line of sight, subject to the specific operating limitations, airspace boundaries, and safety mitigations the FAA has approved for this program. Flights are only conducted within the boundaries and conditions authorized by this waiver.
• Part 107 Certification for Every Pilot. Every individual who pilots a department drone must first obtain and maintain FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification. No employee is authorized to fly a mission — DFR or otherwise — without holding a current Part 107 certificate. Pilots must also complete department-specific training on the BVLOS waiver's operating parameters before flying under it.
• Ongoing compliance. The department's BVLOS waiver and each pilot's Part 107 certification are subject to renewal, recurrent training, and FAA oversight. Any change to FAA-authorized operating parameters is reflected in department policy and pilot training before it takes effect.

Operating under both Virginia's warrant-based framework and the FAA's federal airspace authority means every flight must clear two independent layers of legal and regulatory review — state and federal — before it ever leaves the ground.

What the Drones Do

• Respond to active 911 calls to provide real-time situational awareness to responding officers and supervisors and to alleviate immediate danger to any person
• Assist in locating missing persons, including children, older adults with Silver/Senior Alerts, and vulnerable individuals
• Document traffic crash scenes for official crash reconstruction, consistent with state reporting requirements
• Support search and rescue operations
• Fly during pre-planned training exercises to keep pilots certified and proficient
• Operate under warrant when a judge has authorized aerial surveillance as part of a criminal investigation

What the Drones Do NOT Do

• They do not conduct routine or random patrols. Drones are not used to fly over neighborhoods "just in case." Every flight has a specific, logged, legally justified reason.
• They are never weaponized. No drone operated by this department carries any weapon, munition, or less-lethal device. This is prohibited by state law without exception.
• They do not perform general surveillance of individuals or groups. They are not used to monitor lawful First Amendment activity such as protests, demonstrations, or public gatherings absent one of the legal justifications above.
• They do not use facial recognition technology.
• They do not peer into private residences. Flights are not used to look through windows or into areas where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy, consistent with Virginia's protections against aerial "peeping" and harassment.
• Footage is not retained indefinitely. Video not connected to an active investigation, use of force, or public records request is deleted after 30 days, in compliance with the Library of Virginia retention schedule.
• They are not deployed without a documented legal basis. Every launch is tied to one of the specific authorizations under § 19.2-60.1 — a call for service, an alert, a warrant, a crash report, consent, or training.

Program Outcomes

Since launch on 7/3/2026, this program has supported the following outcomes:

• Decreased response times
• Improved officer safety
• Enhanced community trust
• Increased situational awareness

We will regularly publish information so the community can evaluate whether this program is delivering the outcomes it was built for.