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A Fairfax County police drone reached a reported weapons call near Fair Oaks Mall in 57 seconds, giving responding officers a clearer—and markedly different—picture of the situation before they arrived.

A 911 caller had reported seeing a man armed with a bow and arrow on a median. Live video from the drone instead showed a man experiencing a mental health crisis and pointing a stick at passing motorists.

That information allowed police to lower the priority of the response and approach the encounter with less urgency, Police Chief Kevin Davis said. He said the early view can reduce officers’ adrenaline and help prevent unnecessary uses of force when an initial report does not match what is happening.

The flight was part of Fairfax County’s “Drone as First Responder” pilot program, launched in the fall from the Fair Oaks and Franconia police districts.

During the program’s first 100 missions, drones reached scenes in an average of 83 seconds and arrived before other emergency responders 71 times. They are dispatched to outdoor crimes as well as medical emergencies, vehicle crashes and missing-person cases.

Federal Aviation Administration waivers allow the department to operate the aircraft beyond the pilot’s direct line of sight. After a drone reaches its destination, an operator at the Real Time Crime Center assumes control and monitors the scene through a live video feed for as long as needed.

Davis said the drones use artificial intelligence to avoid trees, buildings and other obstacles. Each aircraft also carries a parachute in case something goes wrong and is comparable in size to an average consumer drone.

The program is intended to give officers more information about a scene before they arrive, improving their awareness and potentially making encounters safer for police and community members. Davis described that capability as a major difference maker for the department in 2026.

Montgomery County police in Maryland operate a similar program.