St. Pete's Drone Squad: Faster, Safer Responses

0:00It's April 29, I'm Cory with the story. This is Tampa Bay News today, driven by AI. St. Petersburg police are stepping up their game with drones that launch seconds after an emergency call hits. They've got a drone hive and real-time intelligence center with 11 drones ready to roll from a control room. This setup lets them get eyes on the scene way faster than driving there. On Wednesday, they demoed it live, sending a drone zipping to the Tropicana Field parking lot for a reported car break in. These birds fly up to 46 miles per hour and hit most spots in under two minutes, beating officers to the punch every time. Sergeant Robert Long says it gives cops ultimate situation on awareness, spotting suspects, vehicles, and even lining up medical help. Chief Anthony Holloway put it straight, committed crime, and the drones watching while back up rolls in. Local resident Patrick Barrett feels way safer knowing officers aren't going in blind. The big win is safety for everyone. Folks get the lay of the land and folks calling for help know helps informed and quick.

1:03No more surprises at high risk scenes. St. Pete plans to add 12 more drones over the next two years, building this tech into their everyday shield for the city.