The Town of Ramapo Police Department has been honored with Skydio’s 2026 Aerial Achievement Award for Innovation, recognizing the department’s use of drone technology to enhance public safety and improve emergency response.

The award was presented last month during the Skydio Ascend conference, with Ramapo Police selected from more than 70 nominations submitted for this year’s awards.

The department’s Drone as First Responder program uses two strategically located Skydio drone docks to provide officers with real-time aerial information during calls for service. Police say the technology helps officers respond faster, make better-informed decisions and deploy personnel and resources more effectively.

Ramapo Police credited the success of the program to its remote pilots, supervisors, dispatchers, patrol officers and others who helped turn the initiative from an idea into an operational public-safety tool.

The department also thanked Ramapo Town Supervisor Michael Specht, Chief of Staff Mona Montal and the Town Board for supporting efforts to responsibly introduce new technology and provide officers with additional tools to serve residents.

Police said the focus of the program is not simply the technology itself, but how it can be used to improve response times, provide officers with better information and enhance safety for both law enforcement and the community.

The department said it is proud of how far the Drone as First Responder program has come and looks forward to continuing to expand its capabilities.