Drones
Oak Brook PD will use drones to respond to incidents such as burglaries, retail thefts and other in-progress crimes
March 26, 2025 05:03 PM•
Joanna Putman
OAK BROOK, Ill. – Police in the Chicago suburb of Oak Brook will soon begin using drones as first responders to 911 calls, marking one of the first programs of its kind in Illinois, CBS News Chicago reported.
The initiative is set to launch at the end of April and aims to improve response times, officer safety and the ability to gather evidence during emergencies, according to the report.
The drones, deployed from the police station roof, can travel up to 50 mph at 400 feet in elevation. Operated remotely from command centers, they will respond to incidents such as burglaries, retail thefts and other in-progress crimes, arriving before officers to provide live video feeds of scenes, according to the report.
Oak Brook Police Chief Brian Strockis called the technology a “game changer,” noting it will not replace officers, but enhance their capabilities.
Drones
DFR 1.0 vs DFR 2.0: The evolution of Drone as First Responder
The next generation of DFR programs will reduce costs and expand operational periods by allowing public safety agencies to utilize the least number of human resources
September 11, 2024 10:41 AM
Read next
DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin said the real-time video evidence gathered by drones will significantly strengthen prosecutions. The drones are being supplied through a three-year contract with Flock Safety, a company already providing similar services in states like California, Arizona and Georgia, according to the report.
Flock Safety and Oak Brook officials emphasized safeguards built into the program. Drone cameras face forward during flight and activate recording only upon arrival. Each flight is logged, with reports made available to the public online, according to the report. Chief Strockis stressed the drones are not for surveillance and are intended to support both community and officer safety.
Trending
Arrests and Sentencing
Man arrested after striking ‘Tesla Takedown’ counter-protester with vehicle
The 70-year-old suspect made an obscene gesture toward a 49-year-old man before hitting him, Meridian Police stated
March 31, 2025 12:45 PM
·
Joanna Putman
Officer Safety
NYPD cruisers dented, windows smashed by mob after officers respond to car meetup
“We will not tolerate lawlessness ... aimed at the police,” Commissioner Jessica Tisch posted on X, saying several suspects were arrested “for crimes that endangered our cops”
March 31, 2025 11:06 AM
Officer-Involved Shootings
BWC: Man wearing ballistic vest opens fire at Fla. officer, grabs rifle before fatal OIS
The officer retreated for cover and returned fire, despite being shot in the foot by the suspect
March 31, 2025 12:12 PM
·
Joanna Putman
Arrests and Sentencing
Man accused of setting fire to Tesla vehicles in Las Vegas arrested, police say
Security video played at the news conference showed the suspect, dressed all in black and covering his face, paint the word “resist” across the glass doors of a Tesla service center
March 30, 2025 07:00 AM
Joanna Putman
Joanna Putman is an Associate Editor and newswriter at Police1, where she has been covering law enforcement topics since August 2023. Based in Orlando, Florida, she holds a journalism degree from the University of Florida and spent two years working in nonprofit local newsrooms, gaining experience in community-focused reporting. Married to a law enforcement officer, she works hard to highlight the challenges and triumphs of those who serve and protect. Have a news tip? Email her at news@lexipol.com
