Lake Forest Approves Drone Pilot To Speed Police, Fire Emergency Response

LAKE FOREST, IL — Lake Forest is preparing to expand how it uses drones in emergencies after the City Council approved a Drone as a First Responder pilot program for the Police and Fire departments.

Beginning this fall, the Lake Forest Police Department and Lake Forest Fire Department will join the Glenview Public Safety Dispatch Center's Drone as a First Responder program. Six other communities are already participating in the regional program through the Glenview Dispatch Center.

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A public safety drone will be stationed on the roof of the Public Safety Building at 255 E Deerpath, where dispatchers will be able to launch it directly to an emergency. The city said the pilot program gives Lake Forest a chance to evaluate the technology and its benefits to the community without an initial subscription cost.

Rather than waiting for a police officer or firefighter to reach a scene, the drone can be airborne within seconds and send live information to responders while they are en route, according to the city. Based on data from existing programs, the technology is expected to have an average response time of less than 70 seconds. Once on scene, the drone can provide real-time video, thermal imaging and other situational information.

"This technology will allow us to get eyes and ears on a potentially dangerous situation within seconds," said Police Chief John Burke. "That information will help our officers make better decisions before they arrive at the scene. It will be an extremely valuable addition to our public safety capabilities."

The city said the technology can help identify threats, locate people who need assistance, assess the severity of an incident and determine the personnel and equipment needed. For firefighters, the drone can provide an early assessment of fires, traffic crashes, damaged structures and other emergencies. Thermal imaging can also help firefighters assess the severity and location of a fire.

"Having the ability to quickly see what is happening at an emergency before our crews arrive will help us make more informed decisions about what personnel and apparatus are responding," said Fire Chief Andy Rick. "This technology gives us another tool to improve situational awareness, use our resources more effectively, and get the right response moving in the right direction as quickly as possible."

The city said the technology may be especially useful during water rescues on Lake Michigan. A drone could quickly fly to a capsized boat scene, help locate a person and give responders a real-time view of conditions on the water. When appropriate, the drone could also deliver a flotation device before rescue crews arrive.

Lake Forest already has Police and Fire Department drone teams and uses drones at city-sponsored events and incident scenes. Under Illinois law, the city said, the Drone as a First Responder aircraft will not be used for random surveillance and will be deployed in response to emergency calls and other legitimate public safety purposes.