SAN ANTONIO — The Texas Department of Public Safety is now using drones to help protect the Alamo, giving troopers the ability to get eyes on an incident within seconds.
DPS took over security operations at the historic site in December. Last month, the department officially launched its drone program at the Alamo.
The system allows troopers to send a drone into the air from a computer command center.
“You can hit ‘send drone,’ and it’ll go that quick,” a DPS pilot said during an exclusive demonstration for the News 4 I-Team.
DPS launches drone program at the Alamo
After the all-clear from the command center, the drone’s weatherproof container lifts open, and after a diagnostic check, it lifts into the air.
Lt. Eric Herrera said the drones give DPS another tool to help keep visitors safe at one of Texas’ most recognizable landmarks.
“Everybody knows, remember the Alamo, right?” Herrera said. “It’s one of the things we want to make sure is safe for people that want to come visit, learn a little bit about our history.”
The major advantage, Herrera said, is speed.
“We’re talking a matter of seconds to minutes,” he said. “And not only that, it’s the ability to stream live video of whatever the incident is.”
The drones act as a force multiplier for first responders, Herrera explained, getting eyes on a situation while troopers head to the area.
Operating a drone above the Alamo comes with challenges, including construction activity, buildings, and large crowds downtown.
DPS launches drone program at the Alamo
“There’s always a changing environment,” Herrera said. “We have cranes, things like that, aerial hazards, and then just the sheer amount of people that we have here.”
DPS says the drones can detect obstacles and automatically move around them.
Officials said that capability could become even more important as the Alamo complex expands. A new visitor center and museum is expected to open in spring 2028.
The Alamo is not the only major Texas landmark where DPS has deployed drones.
The department has also been using the technology as part of its security toolkit at the Texas Capitol complex since early 2019. The first full-time UAS operators were assigned to the Complex in late 2022.
From January through March of 2026, DPS launched 275 flights near the Capitol. 102 were calls for assistance for Austin police.
DPS says the Alamo program could expand in the coming years, but there is no current timeline for when this process will begin.
With the 90th Legislature convening in January, DPS looks forward to working with state lawmakers to secure resources that will keep Texas a leader in UAS technology and threat mitigation – including expanding DPS’ UAS operations at the Alamo.
The department also said the drone could serve as an additional resource for San Antonio police or Bexar County deputies responding to a downtown incident.
Texas DPS has one of the largest drone programs in the nation. There are 407 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107 certified remote pilots operating the department’s various 400 devices.
A spokesperson tells us these pilots and drones help with several public safety operations across Texas, like search and rescue, collision reconstruction, disaster response, firefighting efforts, infrastructure inspections, tactical operations and border security.