Anne Arundel Police to Launch Drone Program in Waugh Chapel

The Anne Arundel County Police Department will begin using drones to respond to emergency calls in the Waugh Chapel area on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, as part of its annual holiday safety initiative.

The pilot program provides officers with real-time aerial views of incidents across several busy commercial and residential zones in western Anne Arundel County. The Drone as First Responder system relies on Skydio drone technology housed in an automated docking station near the intersection of Evergreen Road and Waugh Chapel Way.

Coverage spans the Waugh Chapel Towne Centre, the Route 3 commercial corridor, and nearby portions of Gambrills, Odenton, and Crofton.

Unlike traditional police drones that require officers to transport equipment manually to an active scene, the DFR system launches an unmanned aircraft directly from a fixed docking station to travel straight to an incident.

Police state that the technology can reach nearby locations within minutes, streaming live video directly to officers responding to emergencies. The drones dispatch automatically for active 911 calls, emergencies in progress, traffic incidents involving potential injuries, and situations where officers request aerial support.

Overview of a drone network and its attack surface

The department designed the program to improve situational awareness and help officers assess dynamic conditions before arriving on the scene. The pilot coincides with countywide holiday safety patrols targeting increased traffic and potential property crimes around retail hubs and commercial corridors during the holiday shopping season.

Residents near the Waugh Chapel Towne Centre, including tenants living at the Monarch apartments and surrounding townhomes, may observe drones launching, flying overhead, or returning to the automated docking station.

Police emphasize that the aircraft will not conduct routine neighborhood surveillance or random patrols. According to the department, drones deploy exclusively in response to active incidents or direct requests for assistance.

Camera lenses remain directed toward the horizon while traveling to and from calls rather than pointing into residential properties. The department handles any recorded footage under its existing body-worn camera evidence and data retention policies, evaluating how the technology supports emergency response while maintaining public safety and privacy safeguards.