In this episode of Drone Wars, host Dan Magy sits down with Brett Kanda, Director of DFR Sales at Flock Safety. Brett pulls back the curtain on the revolutionary "Drone as a First Responder" (DFR) program, explaining how automated drones are transforming law enforcement and public safety.
Brett shares his unique journey from being one of the original pioneers in the drone industry back in 2012 to leading the charge in deploying DFR systems across the country. He reveals critical lessons learned from the early days of strapping GoPros to Phantom drones, working with the FAA, and scaling drone operations for public safety.
Join us as we explore the massive technological shifts that are enabling police departments to respond to emergencies in under 90 seconds, clear a significant percentage of calls without dispatching an officer, and enhance transparency with their communities. Brett explains how this technology is no longer a futuristic fantasy but a practical solution being implemented today.
LinkedIn: ( www.linkedin.com/in/brett-kanda-78168583/ )
Flock Safety Website: www.flocksafety.com
www.launchfirestorm.com/
Timestamps:
00:00 - The Future of Law Enforcement
01:10 - Introducing Brett Kanda, Head of Aviation at Flock Safety
01:43 - A Friendship Forged in Diapers
02:40 - The "Wild West" of the Early Drone Industry
03:30 - From Golf Courses to Crime Fighting: The Evolution of a Drone Business
04:15 - Learning the Ropes: From Film School to FAA Test Sites
06:30 - Inside Look at a Global Drone Industry Leader
08:00 - The Tragic Inspiration Behind a Public Safety Drone Company
11:26 - What is "Drone as a First Responder" (DFR)?
12:27 - Why Every Police Chief Wants DFR
13:13 - The Surprising Stat: Clearing 25% of Calls with Drones
18:01 - Gaining Community Trust for Police Drones
19:15 - Is DFR Working? The 86-Second Response Time
21:00 - DFR 1.0 vs 2.0: Removing the Human from the Rooftop
22:48 - The Future is Now: What DFR 3.0 Looks Like
24:00 - How Drones Are Ending High-Speed Chases
26:22 - My Prediction for the Drone Industry in the Next Decade
26:55 - Outro
#DroneWars #PublicSafety #DFR #FlockSafety #BrettKanda #PoliceDrone #LawEnforcement #Robotics #AutonomousSystems #UAS #Drones #FirstResponders #Podcast #AI #FutureOfPolicing

About Drone Wars

Firestorm Studios brings you The Drone Wars Podcast, a show that explores all facets of autonomous systems - ground, air, and sea - and their transformative impact on various aspects of human life, from agriculture to warfare. We feature interviews with CEOs, founders, and C-suite executives from the world's leading autonomy and robotics companies.