Overview
- Since launching in October, two Skydio X10 drones based on the police administration building roof have flown within a two‑nautical‑mile radius to support emergency calls.
- Denver police report 215 deployments through Dec. 8, with drones arriving first more than 80% of the time, determining no patrol was needed in over 30% of cases, and providing critical information in 95% of missions.
- The department says the system is not used for passive surveillance, keeps cameras angled at the horizon en route, and is developing a public dashboard showing flights and paths.
- The Skydio pilot is a zero‑dollar contract running through March 2026, and a separate Flock Aerodome contract is signed but not yet scheduled; officials say automated license plate reader features will not be used during the trial.
- Some council members, including At‑Large Councilmember Serena Gonzalez‑Gutierrez, say they were not informed before the launch and are calling for transparency, public input, and clear limits on use.