Wednesday, April 9th 2025, 10:22 am
Gone are the days when tracking down a suspect relied solely on foot chases and roadblocks. In today’s world of crime-fighting, law enforcement agencies across Oklahoma are embracing high-tech tools—like drones and real-time surveillance—to stay one step ahead.
“In the past, policing came with a baton and gun – that’s what we had,” said Moore Police Chief Todd Gibson. “But technology is changing the game. We used to send officers into dangerous situations. Now, with drones and surveillance, that’s no longer the only option.”
Chief Gibson points to a recent incident in Moore as a clear example of this change. Just before dawn on March 10, officers responded to reports of a car break-in. The suspect took off, trying to disappear into the darkness—but he wasn’t counting on aerial backup.
“We were able to pop a drone up in the air with an infrared camera,” Gibson explained. “We saw a hot spot, which turned out to be a person hiding. We sent officers to that hot spot while somebody in a drone provided aerial coverage the whole time. That led to a big foot chase, but we ultimately stopped a person who had been breaking into cars.”
An officer’s body camera captured another drone-assisted arrest in January. As tense moments unfolded on the ground—an officer shouted, 'Why you running? … You should’ve run a lot faster than that!'— a drone hovered overhead, ensuring the suspect had nowhere to hide.
Beyond simply tracking suspects, drones offer cutting-edge capabilities like night vision, thermal imaging, and high-wind resistance, which are crucial for law enforcement in various scenarios.
Smaller drones have proven invaluable for searching tight indoor spaces during tactical operations. They allow officers to assess dangerous areas without stepping directly into potential harm.
“We thought the suspect was hiding in the attic, and that’s a very difficult area to access,” Moore Police Chief Todd Gibson explained. “Instead of sending an officer up into that risky space, we deployed a small drone to clear the attic. This kept our officers out of harm’s way and prevented any confrontation that could have ended in lethal consequences.” In 2023, officers in Moore reported launching a drone in 642 instances, with 698 deployments recorded in 2024.
Moore Police have a fleet of a dozen drones—and they’re far from the only department embracing this technology. Law enforcement agencies across the state are seeing the benefits of drone-assisted policing, experiencing firsthand how these advanced tools enhance both safety and efficiency.
In Oklahoma City, drones have been incorporated into daily patrol operations, contributing to the successful apprehension of countless suspects in recent years. OKCPD also pioneered Drone as First Responder (DFR) technology at the 2024 Oklahoma State Fair, revolutionizing how the department manages large open-air events. Docked drones, operated remotely by pilots stationed away from the event site, can initiate rapid responses when aerial overwatch is needed.
In Del City, drone technology has played a critical role in search-and-rescue missions, including the nighttime recovery of a missing autistic child. Drones can also be equipped with spotlights or loudspeakers to issue commands, helping to deescalate high-risk situations.
“It allows us to narrow the view and keep officers at a safe distance,” Gibson said. “We can do all this without putting any officer in harm's way or forcing them into a confrontation that might end with lethal consequences.”
Beyond crime-fighting, police are finding creative uses for drones. Last year, officers in Moore and Norman held a drone race to raise funds for Toby Keith’s OK Kids Corral, a charity for children battling cancer.
As more departments invest in this technology, law enforcement believes public safety will improve.
“These tools give us the edge,” Gibson said.
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