Drone as First Responder Pilot Program Being Tested By Snohomish County Sheriff

Autonomous docking station for drone response.

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office is launching a Drone as First Responder (DFR) pilot program in partnership with Snohomish County 911 (SNO911), and Skydio, bringing advanced technology to public safety response.

Everett’s Drone as First responder pilot launched in September, 2025 has helped in several situations, publicly, and many more unannounced. It has helped with fire response, shootings, and a situation in what appeared as a person was pointing a gun at cars, but turned out to be a cigarette lighter, as the drone operator discovered.

Example drone flight as first responder flight over South Everett conducted on 9/11/26 (data likely showing Everett Police, not Snohomish Sheriff).

For the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office program, qualified pilots will evaluate how the rapid deployment of drones can provide first responders with critical, real-time information before deputies and other emergency personnel arrive on scene.

Deputies have remotely piloted drones in support of Sheriff’s Office patrol operations dating back to 2019, but DFR technology represents the next step in that capability. Rather than waiting for a drone team to respond to an incident and launch an aircraft from the scene, DFR allows strategically positioned drones to be deployed remotely within seconds in response to calls for service.

In many situations, that means first responders can have eyes on an incident within minutes and potentially before responding deputies arrive at a scene.

“This pilot is about getting our first responders’ better information, faster,” said Sheriff Susanna Johnson. “When deputies are responding to a crime in progress, a dangerous suspect, a missing person or another rapidly evolving emergency, knowing what is happening before they arrive can make a significant difference.

It can improve officer safety, deescalation, help us use our resources more effectively and ultimately improve the service we provide to our community.”

During the DFR pilot program, the Sheriff’s Office will work closely with SNO911 to test Skydio technology during public safety operations and evaluate how DFR can be integrated into the county’s existing public safety response.

Potential uses during the pilot include:

• Crimes in progress
• Locating fleeing or wanted suspects
• Foot pursuits and perimeter coordination
• Searches for missing or vulnerable people
• Traffic collisions and roadway incidents
• Rescue operations
• Dangerous or rapidly evolving incidents

The Sheriff’s Office recognizes the importance of privacy and responsible use of this technology. Drone operations will be conducted in accordance with applicable laws, FAA regulations and policies governing unmanned aircraft systems.

When the responding drones launch, they fly with the camera pointing in a forward-facing view of the horizon until the drone arrives on scene at the incident location. Each DFR mission is directly associated with either a 911 call for service or in support of public safety operations. DFR technology will not be used to conduct general surveillance or random flights.

SCSO is following all required regulations established by the FAA to conduct Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations for the DFR pilot project and has secured a Certificate of Waiver and Authorization from the FAA.

SCSO also supports full transparency of the DFR program alongside current longstanding drone operations. The community is encouraged to visit the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office Drone Unit Transparency Portal if they wish to review any SCSO drone flight data. The transparency portal can be located at https://app.airdata.com/u/scso and includes date and time of flight, flight path mapping, approximate call location, and the call type.

DFR technology is intended to supplement, not replace, deputies, firefighters, dispatchers or other first responders.

A drone arriving ahead of ground personnel can provide a live view of an incident, identify potential hazards, help locate people involved, assess behavioral health crises, assist with crisis negotiating tactics, assist responding units in establishing a perimeter and provide information that helps first responders determine the safest and most effective response.

While deputies are responding to a fleeing suspect, a drone can maintain an aerial view and share critical information while deputies control their pace and make informed decisions from the ground. DFR can reduce the need for responders to place themselves in unnecessary danger while giving them a better understanding of where a suspect is going and what is occurring around them.

The Sheriff’s Office will evaluate the program’s effectiveness, response capabilities, operational procedures, and safeguards throughout the pilot.

At the conclusion of the DFR pilot project, the participating agencies will evaluate the results, lessons learned and potential public safety benefits before determining next steps for the program.

“This is an opportunity to test an innovative tool while making sure we build the program the right way,” said Sheriff Johnson. “Technology does not replace the men and women responding to emergencies every day.

It gives them another tool, and another perspective, to help them do their jobs more safely and effectively.”