Medicine Hat police test drone response program through Aug. 14
The three-day trial involves deploying a drone from headquarters to assist with active calls for service.
Why it matters
The outcome of this pilot could shape how Medicine Hat police respond to emergency calls and use surveillance technology in the future.
The Medicine Hat Police Service has launched a three-day pilot program testing remotely operated police drones, running through Aug. 14. The service partnered with drone technology provider Skydio for the trial, which involves deploying a drone directly from police headquarters to support calls for service.
MHPS says it will gather deployment data, response footage, performance metrics and lessons learned during the pilot to evaluate whether the technology could be adopted more broadly. The stated goal is to determine if remotely operated drones can improve safety for both officers and the community by providing timely information that helps guide police responses.
The service says privacy, community safety and responsible use are central considerations in the pilot, with all drone deployments following applicable laws, regulations and police policies. Any information collected will be handled in accordance with privacy legislation and MHPS policies.
After the pilot concludes, MHPS will review the results to decide whether remotely operated drone technology could be responsibly incorporated into future police operations.
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