A "Drone as First Responder" drone atop its dock in Aloha, Ore., Feb. 17, 2026. The Washington County Sheriff's Office has two such drones, which are part of a pilot program to test whether drones can help make emergency responses quicker, safer and more efficient.
Courtesy of Corporal David Huey/Washington County Sheriff's Office
When police, firefighters or EMTs barrel down the street, with lights flashing and sirens blaring, somewhere an emergency is unfolding, and every minute counts.
According to Matt Frohnert, a lieutenant in the patrol division of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, that’s one of the most dangerous parts of an emergency responder’s day — just getting there. But what if you could get a set of eyes on the scene faster and more safely than fire trucks, police cars or ambulances?
For over a month, WCSO has been testing using drones to respond to emergencies — such as car accidents or crimes — alongside deputies dispatched after a 911 call. Frohnert joined OPB’s “Think Out Loud” to share more about how the sheriff’s office is using them.
The drones, which are manufactured by California-based company Skydio, aren’t new to WCSO. In years past, the deputies have launched drones from their vehicles when they’re already close to the scene, which is called “line of sight” operation.
But now, FAA-drone-certified deputies are testing launching drones remotely, sending them speeding toward the emergency site faster than first responders. The two drones being used for this pilot program were provided by Skydio for free, and the company says more than 1,000 agencies are already using their Drone as First Responder technology.
“Our average response time has been anywhere from 45 to 120 seconds for the drone,” Frohnert said of the machines, which fly above the skyline. “Maximum speed is 45 miles an hour, and it’s direct.”
The drones WCSO deputies are piloting have a flight range of about three miles from their base in Aloha, Oregon. Since the program launched on Feb. 20, 2026, the two drones have responded to more than 90 calls for service.
One of WCSO’s main focuses for the drones has been traffic accidents, particularly when deputies know or suspect someone is injured.
According to Frohnert, that’s important because if the drone sees no one is injured — say, in a fender-bender accident — emergency services don’t have to deploy, saving time and resources. That leaves first responders “ready to go for the real emergency, if you will,” he said.
For crimes, drone pilots can relay details — like a suspect’s clothing or license plate number — to law enforcement before they arrive. Officers can use that information to speed up their search or determine if they need backup.
The drones’ cameras are pointed at the horizon until it gets to the scene, and the visual data is owned and managed by a WCSO administrator, according to Frohnert.
“It’s a big learning curve,” Frohnert said of the pilot program. “But it’s been very successful. I believe this program is making people safer: my staff, as well as the community at large.”
Frohnert also said expanding drone usage would require increased coordination between public safety agencies. But, he added that with three to four bases — or “hives” — and two to three drones per hive, the drones could reach much of the populated areas of Washington County.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is expected to end its test program in mid-April.
Lt. Matt Frohnert of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office spoke to “Think Out Loud” host Dave Miller. Click play to listen to the full conversation:
