The Cleveland Department of Public Safety Drone First Responder (DFR) Program enhances City first responder safety, operational effectiveness, and community protection through the strategic use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for aerial assessment, improved response times, situational awareness, and evidence documentation. Regardless of the nature of the mission, safety is the primary concern in every operation. Unmanned aircraft shall be operated in a responsible manner consistent with this policy as incorporated into various Public Safety Division orders, Ohio State laws, and federal rules and regulations; ensuring that the privacy rights of the people in the State of Ohio are respected.

This program/policy applies only to the DFR program instituted under the Department of Public Safety for initial response to critical incident dispatched events and does not apply to any other UAV/UAS programs maintained or operated in any of the individual Divisions of the Department (see for example Division of Police UAS policy – G.P.O. 4.06.17).