Another Ontario police force is turning to drones for some 911 calls

By Aaron D’Andrea Global News

Posted February 23, 2026 2:28 pm

2 min read

Click to play video: 'Drones, helicopters and cameras help RCMP catch more criminals' — WATCH: Drones, helicopters and cameras help RCMP catch more criminals – Jan 2, 2026

Get Toronto news on Nextdoor

Be the first to know the latest Toronto news with reliable daily email alerts.

CLICK TO SIGN UP

Several police forces, including Halton Region and Peel, have utilized drones for search and rescue cases, collision reconstruction, tactical operations and disaster response.

In June, an Ontario Provincial Police drone was crucial in finding a three-year-old Quebec girl who was the subject of a frantic four-day search in both provinces.

The girl, who was reported missing in Coteau-du-Lac, Que., was spotted four days later by the police drone sitting alone in a ditch along the side of a highway near St. Albert, roughly 100 km from where she was reported missing.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT

Click to play video: 'Missing 3-year-old Quebec child found alive, spotted by drone in Ontario'

2:07Missing 3-year-old Quebec child found alive, spotted by drone in Ontario

Even in Vancouver — where the Vancouver Police Department’s (VPD) 20 drones flew 1,826 missions in 2024 — drones have been described as critical to daily policing.

One of their drones was key in capturing murder suspect Brendan Colin McBride, accused of killing a man in downtown Vancouver in September 2024 and of slicing off another person’s hand.

McBride was found on Habitat Island by the police drone.

Click to play video: 'Glimpse into VPD’s drone program'

2:20Glimpse into VPD’s drone program

Durham police said its drones comply with Transport Canada authorizations, the approved Privacy Impact Assessment, and all provincial and federal privacy legislation. They will not be used for general surveillance, and do not contain facial recognition technology, it added.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT

“Public transparency is a core element of the project. DRPS will release public-facing materials—including previously collected video footage—to help the community understand how the system works and how privacy is protected. Presentation-style information sessions will also support community engagement,” the force said.

“Throughout the pilot period, DRPS will collect data on response times, operational efficiency, safety considerations, call types, and overall effectiveness. Findings will guide future decision‑making and inform upcoming funding applications.”

The force is holding a First Responder Community Information Night at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 26 at the Education and Training Centre for residents to learn more about the pilot project.MORE ON CRIMEMORE VIDEOS

JOURNALISTIC STANDARDS REPORT AN ERROR