Concord PD Uses Drone To Find Missing Autistic 6-Year-Old Child

CONCORD, CA — The Concord Police Department hailed its first drone deployment a success over the weekend when a drone operator used the device to find a missing child.

Concord police responded early Saturday evening to a report of a missing 6-year-old who is autistic and ran away from his house, according to a Facebook post by the Concord Police Department.

The child's mother called police for help after checking the area, and Concord PD sent multiple officers who began an intensive search. A K-9 team from the Pittsburg Police Department also responded, and a search-and-rescue team from the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office was requested.

Meanwhile, one of Concord PD's drone-certified officers began a grid search for the child. Within about 20 minutes, the drone operator spotted the child in an adjacent apartment complex.

The child was in the complex's quad area and was not visible to nearby officers. The drone operator notified surrounding officers who went to the quad and found the child, unharmed, police said.

Concord City Council approved the drone program in October 2021.