Police Department

SPD Air Support Unit Continues to be a Vital Tool for the Department

Officer T. Leming, PIO

Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 4:22 p.m.

In 2018, Spokane Police Department implemented a new program to assist in its day-to-day functions. With the technological advancements in drones, SPD created the Air Support Unit (ASU). Due to the success of ASU, SPD created a full-time drone team in September of 2025. The team works alongside patrol teams during peak hours and is staffed daily. Currently SPD’s ASU has 8 pilots; 4 of which work as full-time drone operators and 4 of which work in a patrol capacity

ASU responds to multiple calls for service each day and provides overwatch on high-risk calls for officers, helping mitigate officer safety risks. In 2025 alone, ASU responded to 1,593 calls for service. Since moving to full time in September of 2025, ASU has assisted with locating subjects involved in criminal investigations 128 separate times. They have responded to 42 missing persons calls, assisting in locating missing persons from children to senior citizens suffering with dementia. ASU also assists with special operations, such as traffic specials, as well as large city-wide events, providing an added layer of safety to the community.

The implementation of a full-time drone team has created an operational dynamic where drones are frequently among the first officers responding to calls for service. Since September of 2025, ASU has been first on scene for 733 calls for service. This has assisted patrol in locating suspects and making arrests on multiple occasions as ASU can get to a call for service multiple minutes before patrol arrives. While patrol officers must navigate through the city in traffic to get to calls for service, ASU is able to launch their drones from multiple locations around the city and be there almost immediately. They have also handled 479 calls without the need for a patrol response.

Drones provide a highly cost-effective alternative to traditional police helicopters while still providing real time aerial support at a fraction of the cost. Drones are far less expensive to operate and maintain and can be deployed quickly with minimal personnel. This helps SPD respond faster and make use of our resources to keep our community safe.

This video highlights ASU’s value during an active burglary investigation, where drone operators helped officers quickly locate suspects and recover critical evidence, including firearms. These incidents demonstrate how emerging technology can strengthen public safety while improving efficiency, accountability, and officer safety for the Spokane community.

As with all police technologies, the Spokane Police Department remains committed to the ethical, transparent, and constitutional use of drones, with policies, training, and oversight designed to protect both public safety and individual rights.

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