Cities and suburbs across the country are adopting Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs to cut emergency response times, reduce risk to officers, and give residents faster answers when it matters most. But standing up a program the right way takes more than buying hardware — it requires a plan for privacy, transparency and public trust.
This Summer of Savings and Solutions, join the Mayor of Hattiesburg, MS, Toby Barker and BRINC Founder & CEO Blake Resnick for a candid conversation on what’s working in DFR today. You’ll hear directly from a mayor whose city has lived through the rollout — the wins, the community conversations, and the lessons learned — plus a national perspective on policy, funding and best practices for responsible deployment.
This session is built for mayor’s office staff in small and mid-sized cities considering or scaling a DFR program. Walk away with a clear-eyed view of the value DFR delivers, the guardrails that build public trust and practical next steps for your community.
What you’ll learn
- Why cities are adopting DFR and what results look like in practice.
- How Hattiesburg approached rollout, community engagement and measuring success.
- Best practices for privacy, transparency, and oversight.
- How to fund, staff, and pilot a program in your community.
Who should attend
- Mayor’s office staff, city administrators, and policy leads in small-to-mid-sized cities and suburbs evaluating public safety technology.