Bettendorf Police Adding New Technology to Enhance Public Safety

April 22, 2026 - On Tuesday, April 21, 2026, Bettendorf City Council approved a resolution authorizing BPD to purchase two Drone First Responder (DFR) units. These drones will serve as rapid-response aerial resources, allowing officers and firefighters to assess emergency situations more quickly and make informed decisions before arriving on scene.

What is a Drone First Responder (DFR)?
Drone First Responders (DFRS) are unmanned aircraft systems equipped with high-quality cameras and specialized software that enable them to respond rapidly to certain types of 911 calls. When a qualifying call is received by dispatchers, first responders can launch the drone autonomously from its base and arrive at the scene, often within minutes, providing real-time video to responding first responders.

"DFR programs are increasingly used nationwide to improve response times, enhance the safety of first responders, and provide greater situational awareness during critical incidents," said Chief Doug Scott.

DFR Operations in Bettendorf
BPD's DFRs will operate at approximately 200 feet altitude and will be capable of responding anywhere in the city. Software connected to the 911 system will automatically notify BPD when certain call types occur and may authorize the drone to launch. Qualifying call types may include:

• Vehicle crashes
• In-progress burglaries and robberies
• Fleeing suspects
• Missing persons
• Fires and rescue incidents
• Hazardous material situations
• Natural disasters and severe weather events
• Incidents where aerial information can support tactical decision-making and de-escalation

DFRs will not be used for generalized monitoring, random patrols, or for monitoring First Amendment activity without a clearly defined and articulable threat.

Focus on Transparency, Safety, and Community Trust
To ensure the community understands how and why DFRs are used, BPD is implementing several visibility and transparency measures. These include:

• Applying bright yellow decals to all DFR units for easy identification
• Developing a comprehensive policy aligned with national best practices, including guidelines for video retention, allowable use, prohibited use, supervisory review, and management of evidentiary footage
• Launching a public education and outreach campaign
• Posting transparency tools on the City's website, including flight maps, reasons for deployment, and automated flight logs shortly after calls for service close
• Ensuring technical compliance through FAA-aligned safeguards, credential-based system access, audit tracking, and automatic camera orientation toward the horizon during transit

"DFRs give both our police officers and firefighters the ability to see what's happening before they arrive, which improves safety for both the public and our personnel," said Chief Scott. "This technology helps us respond faster, make better decisions, and ensure we're sending the right resources to the right place."

Implementation
Following City Council's vote, BPD has many tasks that need to be completed before the program is fully implemented. Some of these tasks include purchasing and delivery of the product, installation, FAA approval, software integration with the Scott Emergency Communications Center, policy development, and training of staff.

"We have a significant amount of work ahead of us, and it may be several months before the program is fully operational," said Chief Scott. "We recognize the responsibility entrusted to us to implement this tool in the best interests of our community, and we look forward to introducing it to the public and sharing our progress and successes along the way."

BPD is committed to deploying this technology responsibly and transparently, ensuring it enhances public safety while continuing to build trust with the community.