Key Takeaways:
- Blue Springs, Missouri has approved a 10-year contract to become the state’s first "Flock Safe City," utilizing drone-as-first-responder technology to enhance public safety operations.
- The $4.6 million contract will provide the police department with advanced investigative features, including drones that can respond to emergency calls within two minutes.
- The technology is designed to support police officers, not replace them, and will help allocate resources more efficiently.
- The contract will be funded through the city’s public safety sales tax and is expected to be operational by June 2026.
Introduction to Flock Safe City
The city of Blue Springs, Missouri has taken a significant step towards enhancing its public safety operations by approving a 10-year contract to become the state’s first "Flock Safe City." This innovative approach utilizes drone-as-first-responder technology to provide rapid response to emergency calls, with the goal of reducing response times and improving overall safety. The contract, valued at $4.6 million, will equip the Blue Springs Police Department with advanced investigative features, including drones that can respond to emergency calls within two minutes.
The Technology Behind Flock Safe City
The Flock Safe City program is designed to support police officers, not replace them. The technology will provide real-time video feed and other critical information to help officers respond to emergency situations more effectively. The drones will be equipped with advanced sensors and cameras, allowing them to capture high-quality video and images, even in low-light conditions. The police department will also have access to enhanced search features, including license plate readers and live 911 calls streaming into officers’ vehicles. This will enable officers to respond to emergency calls more quickly and make informed decisions about how to allocate resources.
Benefits of Flock Safe City
The Flock Safe City program is expected to bring numerous benefits to the city of Blue Springs. One of the primary advantages is the ability to respond to emergency calls more quickly. With drones able to respond within two minutes, officers will have critical information about the situation before they arrive, allowing them to make more informed decisions about how to respond. The technology will also help to reduce the risk of injury to officers, as they will have a better understanding of the situation before arriving on the scene. Additionally, the Flock Safe City program will provide the police department with advanced investigative tools, including enhanced search features and real-time video feed, which will help to solve crimes more efficiently.
Implementation and Funding
The 10-year contract will be funded through the city’s public safety sales tax. The police department expects to have the complete Flock Safe City program operational by June 2026, coinciding with the FIFA World Cup. The department will add two more positions to its real-time crime center to support the expanded operations. The contract is expected to be cost-saving for the city, as it will provide a bundled package of services rather than requiring the city to pay for each service separately. The police department has been utilizing technology in policing for several years, and the Flock Safe City program is the next step in its efforts to stay at the forefront of public safety innovation.
Conclusion
The approval of the Flock Safe City contract marks an exciting development for the city of Blue Springs, as it becomes the first city in Missouri to utilize drone-as-first-responder technology. The program is designed to support police officers and enhance public safety operations, with the goal of reducing response times and improving overall safety. With its advanced investigative features and real-time video feed, the Flock Safe City program is expected to bring numerous benefits to the city, including faster response times, improved officer safety, and more efficient crime solving. As the program becomes operational in 2026, the city of Blue Springs will be at the forefront of public safety innovation, setting an example for other cities to follow.
