High Point Police Expand Drone Response Program

The city has fully deployed six drones to assist with 911 calls and improve police response efficiency.

Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Emergency Response

A professional quadcopter drone hovers in a clear blue sky above a quiet suburban residential street. — The High Point Police Department has fully activated its Drone as First Responder program, utilizing aerial assets to increase incident response efficiency. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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High Point officially reached full operational capacity for its Drone as First Responder program on October 9, 2026. The department utilizes the fleet to assist with emergency response operations during daily shifts.

Why it matters

The city implemented the program to address local staffing challenges by improving incident response efficiency. By deploying aerial assets, the department aims to provide critical information to dispatchers and officers before ground units arrive.

Between August 3 and October 8, 2026, drones arrived before patrol cars in 344 calls and successfully cleared 45 incidents without an officer response. The city is operating the six drones under a five-year, $1.5 million contract.

The players

High Point Police Department

The local law enforcement agency responsible for maintaining public safety and emergency services within High Point, North Carolina.

The details

Sixteen police staff members are trained to operate the fleet, which runs daily from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Dispatchers provide information to these pilots, who navigate the drones using remote controllers to monitor scenes in real time.

The department established a real-time crime center in 2024.
The drone program initiated operations on August 3, 2026.
Data collection for the initial trial period ended on October 8, 2026.
All six drones became fully operational on October 9, 2026.

Seasonal Patterns

The High Point drone program extends the operational capabilities established by the 2024 High Point real-time crime center. This initiative marks a shift in municipal law enforcement toward integrating automated aerial surveillance into standard emergency workflows.

Residents should be aware that police drones are now regularly deployed in the airspace to monitor emergency scenes. This technology allows for faster information gathering that may change how officers interact with the public during active calls.

The takeaway

The use of drones allows the department to resolve select calls remotely, which may reduce the need for physical officer presence on minor reports. Residents can expect to see increased aerial activity during the program's daily operating hours.