JAMES CITY COUNTY — The James City County Police Department announced it will conduct its first drone test flight April 18 in a new initiative to establish a “Drone as First Responder” program.
The department said this development marks a critical step in its participation in a collaborative research pilot study with Duke University and Virginia Commonwealth University, exploring the feasibility and impact of drone-delivered Automated External Defibrillators in rural areas.
The ongoing research, formally introduced to James City County in June 2024, is focused on exploring whether drones can improve emergency cardiac care by delivering AEDs to bystanders during medical emergencies, the department said.
JCCPD is participating as a research site to support the study’s development and data collection.
The viability of using drones to deliver AEDs in real-world situations is one of the primary questions the research seeks to answer, the department said.
Currently, there are no plans or capabilities for AED delivery via drone within the county.
To advance within the research protocol to simulate AED deliveries via drone, JCCPD must first receive regulatory clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration, including special operating waivers; this approval is contingent upon the successful launch and operation of a DFR program, it said.
A DFR program involves strategically deploying Unmanned Aircraft Systems — drones — to rapidly respond to 911 or police-initiated calls for service, delivering real-time visual and situational intelligence to officers en route, the department explained.
DFR deployments are incident-based and will not involve proactive surveillance or random patrols, according to JCCPD. These flights provide situational awareness in critical incidents such as armed subjects, fights, and vehicle accidents, allowing for faster response times and improved officer and public safety.
Beginning April 18, trained members of JCCPD’s Drone Team, established in 2021 and composed of nine members of the Specialized Response Team, will conduct weekly test flights from the Law Enforcement Center at 4600 Opportunity Way.
The department said all flights will occur within a two-mile radius of the LEC and are expected to occur between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., with the potential for extended hours in the summer. It added the drones used for testing operate at a safe altitude and volume and are not expected to generate disruptive noise for residents.
As James City County’s involvement in this initiative progresses, it said more details will be shared with the community.
In addition to the James City County Police Department, the James City County Fire Department and the Peninsula Regional Emergency Communications Center in York County play key roles in successfully implementing a Drone AED program, the department said.
Over the coming months, residents may see test drones operating near the LEC. These flights are non-intrusive and support the department’s goal of enhancing community safety through responsible innovation and participation in lifesaving research, it said.
