Dallas police are developing an integrated drone system to combat random gunfire, aiming to slash response times to under two minutes across the city.
The technology could provide relief to residents terrorized by frequent shootings, particularly in South Dallas and Oak Cliff neighborhoods, where gunfire reports peak.
When acoustic sensors detect gunshots, dispatchers would automatically launch drones to track suspect vehicles using connected cameras and license plate readers.
“Random gunfire is an issue in D10. I heard random gunfire Sunday morning along Adelia and Walnut Hill. I should have reported it. Once we have drones, I will do that. Until then, it feels like we don’t have officers who can get there soon enough,” said Councilwoman Kathy Stewart, Fox 4 KDFW reported.
The system promises response times between 30 seconds and two minutes. Real-time drone footage would stream directly to officers’ devices as they race to scenes.
Dallas already owns separate gunfire-detection equipment and drones. However, the technologies don’t yet communicate with each other.
“We need it to be able to all work together,” said Major Yancey Nelson with DPD, per Fox 4.
District 4, encompassing parts of Oak Cliff and South Dallas, leads the city in random gunfire reports. Police plan billboard campaigns there, warning potential shooters about the coming crackdown.
“I hope you go strong,” said Councilwoman Cara Mendelsohn. “The billboard needs to tell people to stop. It is terrorizing people. Unacceptable.”
No timeline exists for the program’s launch. The department must first acquire technology to integrate its existing systems into one unified network.
The push follows high-profile incidents like the New Year’s Eve bridge shooting. Two men were arrested after a viral video showed them firing from the Margaret McDermott Bridge, where police recovered over 100 shell casings.