PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — The Port St. Lucie Police Department‘s new Drone as First Responder (DFR) program launched today, helping locate a missing autistic woman before she had the chance to enter a nearby canal.

The DFR program is designed to communicate directly with the computer-aided dispatch system. As emergency calls are received, trained personnel can remotely deploy the drones, reaching the scene within seconds.

The PSLPD says the drone located the woman using a live video feed, directing officers to her exact location before reuniting her with her family.

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“This program is about saving lives, and on day one, that’s exactly what it helped us do,” says PSLPD Chief Leo Niemczyk.

As a part of Testing and Evaluation (T&E), the drones have responded to 17 separate missions from three drones throughout the city on it’s first day. Once fully operational, they hope to increase the number of drones to six.

The PSLPD says they remain committed to leveraging innovative technology to enhance public safety.

“Technology will never replace our officers,” says Chief Niemczyk. “But when technology allows us to locate a vulnerable person faster, improve officer safety and provide better service to our residents, it’s an investment worth making.”