Bellingham Launched Drone First Responder Program

The city police department will utilize new drone technology to provide real-time visuals for 911 emergency response teams.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Emergency Response

Isometric editorial illustration of a drone hovering above an urban street grid, representing police aerial emergency technology. — The Bellingham Police Department launched a drone first responder program to provide real-time visual assessment of emergency scenes for 911 dispatchers. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Bellingham Police Department has introduced a drone as first responder program following the receipt of a $475,417 state grant. Licensed officers will remotely pilot drones to 911 scenes to transmit critical information in real time.

Why it matters

This initiative aims to improve public safety and emergency outcomes by providing first-hand scene information before ground units arrive. The department expects the program to eventually provide around-the-clock support for local emergency response.

The program is funded by a state grant of $475,417 derived from a public safety sales tax of one-tenth of 1%. Operations will begin with four dedicated drone operators who will pilot units to emergency sites.

The players

Bellingham Police Department

This local law enforcement agency is the primary authority responsible for implementing the new drone as first responder program in the city.

Chief Mertzig

As the head of the Bellingham Police Department, this official is responsible for overseeing the tactical transition to drone-integrated emergency response.

The details

The Bellingham Police Department, which has operated an Unmanned Aerial Systems program since 2019, will use these drones to assist emergency teams in assessing hazardous situations from a distance. Similar models have seen success elsewhere, such as in Schenectady, New York, where 64 percent of emergency calls were cleared without the immediate deployment of physical officers.

2019: The police department launched its original Unmanned Aerial Systems program.
2023: A fire incident occurred on Harris Avenue.
October 5, 2026: Chief Mertzig presented the program at a City Council meeting.
Through 2028: Grant funds will cover the program implementation and purchase costs.

Seasonal Patterns

The expansion of the drone program aligns with a global trend of adopting aerial emergency tools, mirroring the deployment strategies currently utilized by more than 400 cities across the United Kingdom. This local effort represents a shift toward technology-heavy response protocols that have become increasingly common in modern policing.

Residents can anticipate the launch of a dedicated program website which will provide further transparency and public information regarding drone operations. The initiative is designed to shorten response times and improve the accuracy of information relayed to field officers.

The takeaway

The integration of drones into first responder units serves as a tactical tool to enhance situational awareness before personnel arrive on site. Bellingham's move joins a growing list of U.S. cities attempting to optimize resource allocation through remote aerial support.