Bellevue residents calling 911 may now get a drone overhead before a patrol car pulls up.
The city has launched a one-year Drone as First Responder pilot program that sends camera-equipped unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to emergency scenes ahead of police officers and firefighters, according to a city press release published Sept. 9. The program is also featured in the Fall/Winter 2026 issue of the city's It's Your City newsletter, which began arriving in mailboxes the week of Nov. 6.
Two patrol officers trained as drone pilots staff the program. When a call comes in that warrants a UAS response, one of them launches a drone to the scene while officers and fire crews are still driving there. Live video from the aircraft helps responders size up the situation and decide what equipment and personnel the call requires.
The drones can also determine that no emergency response is needed at all. That frees officers to handle other calls.
What city leaders say
Police Chief Wendell Shirley called the program "a true force multiplier for the Bellevue Police Department" in the city's press release.
"This city resource will empower our officers to respond to calls for service faster, safer and with greater precision across the city," Shirley said.
Fire Chief Dave Tait said the drones will give firefighters a head start on understanding what they face.
"I am relieved to know our crews will have information about the situation they are about to face before they even set the parking brake on scene," Tait said in the press release. He said UAS will allow incident commanders to see real-time aerial and thermal views of structure fires, wildland fires, hazardous materials incidents, technical rescues and large-scale emergencies.
Funding and vendor
The Bellevue City Council approved funding for the pilot on Sept. 8. The Bellevue Police Foundation and the Apex Foundation also contributed money, according to the city's press release. The city is using Skydio to run the program.
No total budget for the pilot has been publicly disclosed.
Privacy protections
The city said police and fire drones will fly only in response to a call for service. Data collected will follow local retention policies and applicable state and local laws.
Bellevue's official UAS policy states that "without a warrant or emergency circumstances, drone operators cannot intentionally record or transmit images of places where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy," The Watchdog reported. That includes the insides of private homes and fenced backyards.
According to The Watchdog's reporting, the Washington State Archives' law enforcement records retention schedule requires footage with no significant incident to be destroyed 90 days after recording. Footage tied to an investigation is kept as part of the case file.
The city plans to publish a transparency dashboard where residents can track drone operations.
Background
Bellevue has flown drones since 2021, using them mainly to document storm damage and investigate traffic collisions. The first responder pilot extends that work to live calls for service.
Nearby Redmond, which runs a similar program, recorded an 18.8% drop in officer-initiated responses in 2025 after drone footage showed certain calls did not require an officer, according to Bellevue's press release.
Residents with questions can contact the Bellevue Police Department at [email protected] or visit the city's UAS information page.
