Minnetonka Police Department receives 2026 City of Excellence Award for their DFR program

Synopsis

Minnetonka Police Department received the 2026 City of Excellence Award for its Drone as First Responder (DFR) program, recognizing the city’s innovative approach to improving emergency response and public safety operations. Supported by the Real-Time Operations Center, the program uses drones to provide immediate visual intelligence for 911 incidents, helping dispatchers and first responders assess scenes faster, deploy the right resources, and improve outcomes. With drones often arriving ahead of ground units, plus strong privacy policies and a public transparency dashboard, Minnetonka’s award-winning DFR program has become a model for efficient, accountable public safety innovation.