Reno Police Deploy Drones on New Year’s Eve

Tom Darby

RENO, Nev. — The Reno Police Department will once again take to the skies on New Year’s Eve, deploying drones over downtown to monitor crowds and respond quickly to illegal activity.

Police will use the same drone technology that helped officers identify suspects dressed as Teletubbies accused of lighting illegal fireworks during the Zombie Crawl in October, according to RPD Public Information Officer Hunter Mercurio.

The drone will fly over downtown Reno, focusing on casinos and other high-traffic areas as New Year’s Eve celebrations ramp up. Mercurio said the technology allows officers to gather real-time intelligence and relay information directly to officers on the ground.

“It’s real intelligence in real time for what is happening on the ground,” Mercurio told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Reno has been using drones for about a year, and officials say the results have already proven useful. During the Zombie Crawl, a drone pilot and spotter observed illegal fireworks going off downtown and quickly alerted patrol officers, who responded within minutes.

The city plans to expand its use of drones in the coming years. In December, the Reno City Council approved nearly $2 million for a first responder drone program to improve response times and enhance situational awareness during active incidents. Other agencies, including the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office and the Sparks Police Department, are also embracing drone technology.

Police are also boosting staffing levels to manage large crowds. Mercurio said up to 18 additional officers will be on duty from Wednesday night into early Thursday morning.

RPD says enforcement efforts will focus on illegal fireworks, celebratory gunfire, and impaired driving as the city rings in the new year.