Laredo police unveil state-funded drone program that can deliver Narcan, officials say

Laredo — The Laredo Police Department outlined a new state-funded drone program it says will act as a “drone as a first responder,” able to reach priority scenes, provide real-time surveillance and deploy life-saving Narcan, Assistant Chief Ricardo Gonzales told the Drug and Alcohol Commission on Thursday.

The department said the program is funded by a state grant and is part of a three-year plan that includes multiple “pods” (stationed launch sites), dedicated pilots and an integrated software system to share real-time video with patrol officers. “This is not just some kid flying out of a roof and trying to get information. This is a whole ecosystem,” Gonzales said.

Why it matters: Police representatives described the drones as a tool to speed emergency response in areas that are difficult for officers to reach quickly and to provide time-sensitive information that could de-escalate incidents or aid medical responders. Gonzales said the department has already recovered more fentanyl and methamphetamine in enforcement actions and that faster eyes-on-scene could help in both public-safety and overdose situations.

Program details presented: The police described two operational pods already placed in priority areas and a 2-mile operational radius for each pod. Department presenters said a drone can reach the outer two-mile limit in about 2½ minutes, typically stay on scene 15–20 minutes, and has about 40 minutes of rated flight time depending on conditions. The station includes a wireless charging pad; presenters said they aim to let batteries discharge to roughly 30% before returning so charging time back to full is about 30 minutes.

The department said the system includes beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations under an FAA waiver that allows flights up to about 200 feet above ground level in approved areas; it will avoid no-fly zones such as approach paths near the airport. Lieutenant Motuk described pilot operations and safety measures, including automatic collision-avoidance features and landing fiducials that guide the drone to a charging strip.

Narcan deployment and training: Officials said the vendor developed a safe delivery mechanism at the department’s request so drones can drop Narcan and provide two-way audio guidance to bystanders. Department staff said pilots are trained in first aid and Narcan administration so they can coach bystanders until medical personnel arrive.

Cost, scale and funding: Presenters said the program received state grant funding (they emphasized that local taxpayers did not pay for the initial purchase). At the meeting Gonzales gave a high-level financial figure for a three-year plan and an equipment-plus-software package: “A 3 year plan. $3,000,000,” and said the program will include multiple drones and supporting infrastructure. Officers also described an array of software and systems costs to integrate drone data into criminal-case evidence workflows.

Operational staffing: Presenters said the department has trained a corps of pilots across patrol and specialized units and identified two civilian pilots dedicated to the drone pods; the broader pilot pool was described as a distributed staffing model that lets field officers access aircraft when needed.

Privacy and disclosure limits: Officials repeatedly said they would not disclose sensitive technical details in a public meeting and warned participants not to post exact station locations or operational details publicly. Gonzales said the presentation provided an overview, and technical, security, and investigative details would remain restricted.

What’s next: The commission members were invited to see the drone and pod after the presentation. Officials said they will continue refining operational procedures, software integration and coordination with patrol units.