First in the Nation - Pearland PD expands DFR operations to include BVLOS without Visual Observers
PEARLAND, Texas, March 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pearland Police Department has been awarded a certificate of authorization (COA) to operate its drone as first responder (DFR) program beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operation, eliminating the need for human visual observers (VOs). This was achieved using Iris Automation's Casia G ground-based air surveillance system.
- The City of Pearland is a rapidly growing city south of Houston with a population of 129,600 and 179 sworn police officers.
- It covers a mostly residential area of 49 square miles, and includes major urban facilities such as hospitals, schools, colleges, and shopping centers.
- Pearland PD is now able to radically improve its DFR program and how it responds to emergency calls.
- Drones can be dispatched immediately, circumventing traffic, and offering an advanced assessment of the incident scene and reducing risks to officers.