Cincinnati's fleet of 22 police drones has handled nearly 11,000 calls in its first year, resolving about one in four without sending an officer to the scene. The drones cover about 90% of the city, a footprint that includes District 2, which serves Hyde Park and Oakley.

The Cincinnati Police Department (CPD) released results from the drone-as-first-responder program on Aug. 31, according to WKRC. Of nearly 11,000 responses, about 2,600 calls did not require additional police presence. That works out to 24%.

Council Member Anna Albi brought the program to local residents' attention at a Hyde Park Neighborhood Council meeting in June, saying the city had invested in drones that can respond faster than officers in many cases, according to the council's meeting notes.

"What we have found is that it's exceeded all our expectations," Sgt. Jay Kemme, who has led the program since its launch, told WKRC.

Pilots operate the aircraft remotely from a communications center in South Fairmount and can livestream footage directly to officers heading to a scene. Kemme said some calls that once took 20 minutes to reach now get a drone overhead within two to three minutes.

He described a recent shooting case in which a drone arrived within 30 seconds, tracked a suspect who changed clothes and moved through neighborhoods and woods, and helped officers make an arrest. The suspect was arrested for allegedly shooting a woman in the stomach, according to Kemme.

The program averaged close to 100 flights per day as of the one-year mark. That figure is up from an average of 61 daily flights CPD reported to a city council committee in June, according to Signal Cincinnati. At that meeting, Lt. Col. Matthew Hammer said the expanded use of drones was part of Interim Chief Adam Hennie's 90-day summer plan.

CPD distinguishes the drones from Flock camera systems, describing the program as a response to residents' calls for service rather than passive surveillance. Kemme told WKRC the drones launch only when someone calls for help.

Looking ahead, CPD has been selected as the first of 12 law enforcement agencies nationwide to participate in a research study run by Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati. Researchers will evaluate how drone first-responder programs affect public safety, police operations and community outcomes. No timeline for the study's completion has been announced.

Residents who need police assistance can call 911 or reach CPD's non-emergency line at 513-765-1212.