PROSPER, Texas — The Prosper Police Department is the first in the state to deploy drones for emergency calls, in an effort to improve response times at the scene of a crime.

“It’s the first of the kind in the state in that we’re utilizing not only the LPRs, the license plate readers, in concert with our drone technology, and it’s the first in kind, in that the drone itself is an autonomous drone,” said Sgt. Keith Mann, who oversees patrol and drone operations for the Prosper PD.

Trained and certified pilots dispatch the flying patrol for parking complaints, disturbances, traffic stops and stolen vehicles. The drone provides eyes on the scene before officers arrive. Flying up to 400 feet and streaming live video back to dispatch and tracking suspects.

“Our drone pilot can actually launch the drone remotely here at the office, and the drone will fly itself to the destination without much intervention from the pilot, unless emergency procedures need to take place,” Mann said.

It even recharges itself.

“The drone will actually land into its docking station, and if the batteries need to be replaced, the docking station will replace those batteries without human intervention,” he continued. “It is the coolest thing ever.”

Though, at present, Prosper only has one drone. They look forward to expanding the program over the next 90 days, adding another to allow for more coverage area.

“We will be growing the program to two drones in the next 90 days,” Mann said. “And that will allow us to cover the entirety of our city, our geography, as well as allow us to help other agencies around us.”