by Wesley Harris
When a major crash snarls traffic on Interstate 20, a loud party draws a complaint on a busy weekend night, or a child runs away from home, the first Ruston police response may now come from above.
Ruston Police Chief Eric Watson has touted the value of a “drone as first responder” program since he was hired in early 2025. In recent months, the Ruston Police Department has put the technology to work in a variety of situations, using the drone to get an early look at scenes, locate people, and help determine where officers are needed most.
Watson calls the drone a “force multiplier.”
Simply put, a force multiplier is a tool that allows the officers already on duty to accomplish more. A drone can provide another set of eyes without immediately taking an officer in a patrol vehicle away from another call.
That has particular value as RPD continues to face staffing challenges.
Watson said the department still has not reached one of the goals he set early in his tenure—having 10 patrol officers on every shift. While a number of officers have been hired and trained, resignations have stymied that effort, with officers often leaving for higher-paying law enforcement jobs.
The drone does not replace those officers. Instead, it can help the department make better use of the officers who are available.
The concept is commonly called “Drone as First Responder.” Rather than waiting for an officer to reach a scene before police know exactly what is happening, the drone can sometimes arrive first. Its video capability allows the “pilot” to see the scene and make an initial assessment, including the priority of the call and how many officers may be needed.
That can be particularly useful when several calls are waiting at the same time.
On busy weekend nights, for example, RPD has used the drone to respond to complaints of loud parties and disturbances. The view from above can help determine the size of a gathering, what is occurring, how quickly police need to respond, and how many officers should be sent.
The same principle can apply to other types of calls. If the drone shows a situation is more serious than initially reported, additional officers can be sent. If the situation appears less urgent, officers can remain available for higher-priority calls.
The drone has also proved useful during major crashes on Interstate 20, where traffic can quickly back up for miles. While officers deal with the crash scene, the drone can provide a wider view of the traffic congestion and help police watch for other problems developing beyond the immediate crash.
During high school football games, RPD has used the drone to patrol the perimeter of stadiums. In addition to watching for problems, the aerial patrol can help deter vehicle burglaries in parking areas while officers are occupied with the crowds inside and around the stadium.
In another case, the drone quickly located a runaway before she could leave the vicinity. Officers searching from patrol vehicles might not have spotted her as quickly. The drone also has heat-imaging capability, which can help locate people or activity that may be difficult to see with a conventional camera, particularly at night.
In another instance, an investigator at her desk happened to have live drone video of a patrol officer’s stop pulled up on her computer. As she watched, she recognized a man the officers were talking to as a suspect in a previous case.
When RPD was contemplating acquiring a drone, Watson emphasized its value in protecting officers as well as resolving critical incidents without the use of force.
For example, the drone can help determine whether a suspect is armed before officers approach. It can also be used during emergencies involving hazardous materials, allowing officials to assess the situation from a safe distance.
Its usefulness has extended beyond police work.
The Ruston Fire Department utilized the drone at a recent stubborn woods fire in the East Mississippi Avenue area. Heavy smoke made it difficult for firefighters to locate the fire’s hot spots. The drone helped pinpoint those areas so firefighters could direct their efforts where they were most needed.
The number of flights shows how quickly the drone has become part of local public safety operations. Deputy Chief Ben Thomas said the drone has made 312 flights since June.
The technology can serve several roles. It can provide an early look at calls for service, search areas that would take officers much longer to cover on foot or in vehicles, watch traffic and crowds from above, help locate missing or fleeing people, and give officers approaching a scene a better idea of what they may encounter.
But its role as a first responder may be particularly important for a department trying to do more with limited staffing.
A drone cannot make an arrest, interview a witness, comfort a crime victim, direct traffic, or perform the many other duties that require an officer on the ground. What it can do is provide information sooner and help the department decide where those officers are most needed.
For RPD, the practical purpose behind the drone as first responder program is straightforward: get eyes on a situation sooner, give officers better information, and make the best use of available staffing.
For a department that has not yet reached its patrol staffing goal, that extra set of eyes in the sky can help officers on the ground cover more territory and respond where they are needed most.
