Coral Springs commission approves more than 750,000 dollars to expand drone program aimed at improving emergency response and public safety operations citywide
Coral Springs, Florida – When a parent calls 911 at 11 o’clock at night saying they cannot find their two-year-old, Coral Springs police and fire departments could soon have drones to search pools and canals within seconds, according to police Chief Brad Mock.
The city commission’s approval includes waiving the usual procurement process in order to purchase the drone system and docking equipment for $465,536 from Axon Enterprise Inc. of Scottsdale, Arizona. The city has worked with the company before, having previously purchased body cameras, tasers, and earlier drone systems dating back to 2004, according to city documents.
In addition to the drone units themselves, the city also approved $296,000 for three docking stations. These stations will be installed on top of key city buildings, including fire stations and the police headquarters. Chief Mock explained that this placement is essential for achieving rapid deployment across different areas of Coral Springs.
“So, based on where we’re putting them, which are on our buildings, which are the two fire stations, as well as our police station, that coordinated effort puts us there, where we can, we can get a drone on scene, eyes on scene in 30 to 40 seconds,” he said.
The drone first responder program is designed to work automatically through integration with the city’s computer-aided dispatch system. Once a call is received and classified as a qualifying emergency, the system will deploy drones immediately without waiting for manual activation. Officials say this will help reduce delays and provide first responders with real-time visual information before they even arrive at the scene.
The system will respond to a wide range of incidents, including cases involving fleeing suspects, public safety threats, and urgent emergencies where fast assessment is critical. It will also play a key role in searches for missing persons, including individuals with dementia, missing children, and victims of water-related accidents or vehicle crashes in canals.
Chief Mock emphasized that the motivation behind the program is straightforward and centered on outcomes that matter most in emergency response.
“Absolutely, it’s about, at the end of the day, it’s about efficiency and saving lives, that’s what it’s about,” he said.
City officials estimate that the system could reduce response times by as much as 70 percent from the moment an emergency call is received. That improvement could significantly change how quickly officers and firefighters are able to assess and respond to developing situations, especially in hard-to-reach or time-sensitive environments.
One of the key advantages highlighted by the city is the ability of drones to provide live video feeds to first responders en route to a scene. In water-related emergencies, which are a particular concern in parts of South Florida, drones could help locate missing individuals far faster than traditional ground searches alone.
The funding strategy for the project relies on federal forfeiture funds, which are generated through assets and money seized during criminal investigations. These funds are legally required to be used for law enforcement purposes, allowing the city to expand its technology without placing additional pressure on local taxpayers.
With the approval now in place, Coral Springs is preparing to move forward with one of its most significant public safety technology upgrades in recent years. Officials believe the drone program will not only improve response efficiency but also reshape how emergency services operate across the city in the years ahead.
