News Releases

For Immediate Release: Thursday, February 1, 2024

Gaithersburg, MD – Drone pilots from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Operations Division conducted their first flight in the Wheaton district on Wednesday, January 31, 2024.

The Drone as First Responder Program in Silver Spring has demonstrated to be a valuable asset since November 2023, helping 3rd District officers with increased response times, decision making, de-escalation and staffing shortages.

Designed to enhance emergency response capabilities, this program now introduces an unmanned aircraft to the Wheaton area, with the call sign Raven 2, to provide critical support to the department and better serve the residents of Montgomery County.

The Drone as First Responder program leverages Raven's capabilities to reach the scene of a call for service, either before or in conjunction with patrol officers. This innovative approach aims to revolutionize emergency response by offering a real-time aerial perspective and strategic insights.

Raven's operational objectives include:

Assisting in the assessment of scenes and circumstances before officers arrive.
Providing essential tactical information and situational awareness to enhance response safety.
Contributing to the de-escalation of situations and improvement of overall response times.
Addressing staffing shortages and assisting public safety efforts.

For more information on the program, and to view Raven flight maps, please visit Drone as First Responder Program, Department of Police, Montgomery County, MD (montgomerycountymd.gov)