The Ramapo Police Department says its new Skydio RAPTOR (Ramapo Aerial Patrol – Tactical Operations & Reconnaissance) Unit is already delivering measurable improvements in emergency response, just months after launching its Drone as First Responder (DFR) program.

According to the department, the initiative required months of planning, specialized training, policy development, and community outreach before becoming operational. Officials say the program is designed to enhance public safety by providing officers with real-time aerial intelligence, allowing them to make faster and more informed decisions.

Over the past two weeks, the RAPTOR Unit completed 95 DFR missions, with drones arriving first on scene in 56% of incidents, providing responding officers with live information before they arrived. Police also reported that more than 28% of calls were resolved without requiring a patrol unit to respond, allowing officers to remain available for higher-priority emergencies while still addressing community calls.

The department recently expanded the program by adding five FAA-certified Remote Pilots, increasing its ability to deploy drones safely throughout the Town of Ramapo.

Looking ahead, Ramapo Police are working with CentralSquare Technologies, Axon, and Skydio to integrate the department’s Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system directly into the Skydio DFR Command platform. Officials say the integration will allow emergency calls to be automatically routed into drone operations, further reducing response times and improving situational awareness.

Police emphasized that the program is intended to support—not replace—officers in the field, giving them better information and helping them respond more efficiently while continuing to provide a high level of service to the community.