Launch Mexico’s First 'Drone As A First Responder' Program

Cape, a cloud platform for drone telepresence and data management, and the Tijuana Public Safety Department have announced the launch of the city’s Drone as First Responder (DFR) program. The first official DFR program to be deployed in Mexico, the program will integrate two drones equipped with the Cape Aerial Telepresence platform into daily operations, providing access to real-time aerial visibility and intelligence for officer support in both the command center and the field.

As part of the program, Cape-enabled drones will support emergency response efforts within a 1.8-mile radius of the Tijuana Public Safety Department headquarters, with a focus on improving both operational efficiency and the safety of both first responders and the greater Tijuana community. Launched from the roof of the headquarters, the drones will be dispatched to 911 calls across the downtown and Zona Rio areas. With access to the drone’s real-time feed, officers can get a live view of the situation before ever arriving on scene, enabling full situational visibility for improved outcomes, and allowing for faster, more accurate resource deployment.

“For our officers, real-time visibility is critical for ensuring their safety and the safety of both Tijuana residents and visitors, said Marco Antonio Sotomayor Amezcua Secretariat of Public Safety, City of Tijuana. “Ensuring that our first responders have the tools they need to best serve our community is always a top priority. We have seen the benefits of drone use for public safety first-hand, and are extremely proud to be at the forefront of adopting the technology, as the first city in Mexico to deploy a Drone as a First Responder program. We look forward to seeing the impact the program has on our city and to serving as an example for other agencies across the country.”

The program is part of a cross-border collaboration between the cities of Tijuana and San Diego, California, and modeled after the successful DFR program in Chula Vista, California. The Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD) has been pioneering the innovative new model for public safety drone integration in partnership with Cape as part of the San Diego Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Integration Pilot Program (IPP), a national program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the FAA that aims to expand the safe integration of commercial drones across industries. Since CVPD’s launch in October 2018, the drones have responded to more than 572 calls for service, accounting for more than 140 hours of total flight time, and have been credited with supporting more than 70 arrests.

“Drone as First Responder programs are redefining what’s possible and shaping the future of public safety for law enforcement agencies across the globe,” said Chris Rittler, CEO of Cape. “As evidenced by the results we’ve seen in Chula Vista, the impact of unlocking total aerial visibility -- something that was previously reserved only for larger agencies with big budgets -- is undeniable. Tijuana is demonstrating technology leadership and a strong commitment to increased public safety through their investment in the DFR program. Cape is honored to be their technology partner.”

A leader in the commercial drone software space, Cape is one of the first and only companies in the U.S. to be awarded precedent-setting waivers under both Section 333 and Part 107 regulations, and recently played a key role in securing one of the first Certificates of Authorization (COA) with a provision for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) in the U.S. as part of its work with Chula Vista Police Department. To date, Cape has performed more than 100,000 flights across the U.S., Middle East, Mexico, and Australia.

(Source: Cape news release)

FMI: www.cape.com