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Caldwell police outline drone-first responder program, privacy safeguards and early results
Summary
Caldwell Police Captain Rob Rosen told a council workshop the department’s Drone First Responder (DFR) program and real-time information center combine drones, automated license-plate readers and cameras to speed responses, reduce pursuits and aid investigations; officials emphasized a public transparency portal and internal audit controls.
Captain Rob Rosen of the Caldwell Police Department outlined the city’s Drone First Responder (DFR) program and real‑time information center at a council workshop, describing how drones, automated license‑plate readers (ALPR) and a video management system work together to speed responses, reduce risky pursuits and provide evidence to prosecutors.
Rosen said the department has three Skydio drone docks deployed and that the city will pay about $125,000 to field those docks over five years. He described operational safeguards — including a public transparency portal whose flight records and basic flight details can be viewed on the city’s website — and said the department has disabled continuous recording from takeoff to return to limit incidental collection. "This is the best project I've seen rolled out," Rosen said, adding staff and supervisors operate and audit access to the systems.
The presentation emphasized legal limits and policy controls. Rosen cited Idaho law (identified…
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