Police in Gurnee have introduced a new drone that automatically and remotely launches to emergency calls, which has already led to locating a missing child and the arrest of a drunk driver.
The Gurnee Police Department said it has launched a Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program, which is an initiative designed to enhance public safety by reducing response times and providing real-time situational awareness during emergencies.
The program officially launched on August 22, integrating advanced drone technology directly into frontline emergency response, according to Gurnee Police Department Public Information Officer Shawn Gaylor.
The drone proved its value in two critical incidents in its first two weeks.
It helped officers quickly track down and arrest a hit-and-run DUI driver by providing real-time aerial support. The drone, in the second case, helped locate a missing autistic child within minutes.
While officers needed more than 10 minutes to reach the child on foot by navigating down railroad tracks and through dense brush, the drone’s quick detection made the safe recovery possible.
“These examples demonstrate how drones strengthen emergency response capabilities, enabling officers to respond more efficiently and safely by deploying advanced technology directly to the scene,” Gaylor said.
The Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program differs from traditional police drone programs, which rely on officers carrying drones in squad cars and manually launching them.
Gurnee’s DFR drone is housed in a secure, climate-controlled docking station on top of a Gurnee Fire Department station where it remains charged, weather-protected and ready to deploy at a moment’s notice.
The program is powered through a partnership with Paladin Drones, a company specializing in drone technology specifically for law enforcement.
Paladin’s platform allows the Gurnee Police Department to safely manage drone operations remotely, stream live video in real-time and track mission activity.
Gaylor said an officer inside the station can simply select a location on a digital map after receiving a call for service, prompting the drone to launch autonomously and fly directly to the scene.
The drone can cover a much larger area of the village than traditional drones because the system is authorized to fly beyond the operator’s visual line of sight.
Live video feeds are streamed to responding officers and command staff within seconds of takeoff, providing information such as crowd size, vehicle descriptions or potential hazards before officers even arrive on the scene, Gaylor said.
The drone, a DJI M30T, can be flown at a top speed of over 50 mph, allowing it to reach most areas of Gurnee within minutes.
Thermal and night vision cameras allow visibility in low-light or obscured conditions.
A 16x optical zoom camera allows the aircraft to capture clear details from a safe distance. It also features a 40-minute flight time and automated tracking technology for monitoring vehicles or individuals.
The aircraft is the third drone in the Gurnee Police Department’s fleet. The department has maintained a drone program since 2016.
“This program represents a significant step forward in how we protect and serve the community of Gurnee,” Gurnee Deputy Police Chief Jeremy Gaughan said.
“By integrating drone technology into our emergency response efforts, we are adding a powerful tool that allows us to respond more quickly, operate more safely, and make better-informed decisions in critical moments. Our goal is simple: give our officers every advantage in protecting the public while strengthening trust and transparency with the community we serve,” Gaughan said.
The department said the DFR drone is used for 911 emergency calls, locating missing persons and special events. It will not randomly patrol.