Frisco is gearing up to put police drones into regular service. Last Tuesday, the City Council voted to amend its agreement with Flock Group and authorize a drone-as-a-first-responder program for the Frisco Police Department. The deal covers six drones, docking stations, cameras, and supporting software at a total price of roughly $427,500. City staff said the city will initially cover the cost, then seek state grant reimbursement to help offset the bill.
According to Community Impact, the package includes six drones with docking stations, batteries, and both thermal and high-definition cameras. Software features listed in the council agenda include remote piloting, air-traffic awareness tools, a spectator-view mobile app, and a community engagement dashboard. The item notes that Frisco will pay for the system up front and then apply to the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority grant program for reimbursement.
Prosper, the North Texas town that rolled out what it called the state's first Flock Aerodome "drone as a first responder" system this spring, reports that its deployed drones can reach nearby scenes in roughly 86 seconds, using automated battery-swapping docks and integration with license-plate readers. In a press release, the Town of Prosper described the Aerodome as featuring Detect-and-Avoid radar and direct ties to Flock's license-plate reader platform.
Frisco is already familiar with Flock hardware. Earlier this year, the city installed Flock license-plate reader cameras after receiving a Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority grant, according to a January release from the city's press office. That release stated that images are retained for 30 days and that the cameras are not used for traffic enforcement.
How the DFR system will operate
Flock's Aerodome platform pairs docked drones with automated launch and battery swaps, high-definition and thermal imaging, and safety systems designed to operate within FAA rules, according to Flock Safety. The company also promotes software for remote piloting, air-traffic awareness, and integrations that allow dispatchers to launch drones in response to alerts from license-plate reader cameras.
What Frisco officials are saying
Grant Cottingham, a public information officer with Frisco Police, told Community Impact that the technology "has proven to enhance public safety efforts in other cities," and that it can improve officer safety and situational awareness. The department says it is still working through operational details, including dock locations and pilot training.
Transparency and privacy questions
Not every jurisdiction has moved forward without debate. When Alameda County approved a rooftop drone-as-a-first-responder program earlier this year, officials acknowledged public concerns about surveillance and added transparency measures, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The Town of Prosper says it makes flight logs publicly accessible through a flight dashboard and requires FAA Part 107 certification for all drone pilots, according to the town's press materials.
With the council vote now on record, Frisco staff will move forward with procurement and the grant-application process while working through FAA requirements and local policy steps before full deployment. Officials have not yet set a firm rollout date for the drones.
