Foley Votes to Use Drones For Emergency Response
By Rick McCann
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
October 20, 2026
FOLEY, Ala. In an effort to continue moving the City of Foley forward safely, the City Council approved a new technology initiative authorizing the Foley Police Department to utilize drones as first responders.
Through an innovative partnership with Skydio, the largest U.S. based drone manufacturer, the Foley Police Department will integrate advanced aerial technology directly into its emergency response system.
The program is designed to modernize public safety infrastructure by placing “eyes on scene” within seconds of an emergency call, serving as a vital digital extension of traditional first responder services.
When certain emergency calls are received, a Skydio drone is instantly launched from its station located within the city and flies autonomously to the exact GPS coordinates of the incident. Arriving on scene in a fraction of the time, the drone streams live video data back to our dispatchers and responding officers, providing immediate eyes on the scene for a safer and more efficient emergency response.
The Benefits:
Enhanced Officer Safety: Live video feeds provide officers with critical situational awareness before they arrive on scene, allowing them to de-escalate volatile situations and prepare the appropriate response.
Faster Response Times: Drones arrive in a fraction of the time required by ground units, enabling rapid assessment of critical situations.
Optimized Resource Allocation: Real-time video transmission helps police and fire department supervisors determine the exact type and level of officer response required for an incident.
Search Support: Airborne capabilities provide crucial assistance during active search operations for missing persons.
We’d like to make it clear these drones will not be used for general surveillance. Our program is strictly designed as an emergency response tool, solely utilized to bring real-time situational awareness and visual insight to active emergency scenes within minutes.
We are eager to bring this program to the City of Foley. As we move forward with this project, we remain committed to transparency and look forward to sharing further updates with our community as development progresses.
With the rapid growth we are seeing, we know that the Foley Police Department will continue to bring the best people and technology to keep you and your family safe in our city.
With the rapid growth we are seeing, we know that the Foley Police Department will continue to bring the best people and technology to keep you and your family safe in our city.
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