Rochester Police Led MN in Non-Warrant Drone Deployments in 2025
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Rochester Police Department led all law enforcement agencies in Minnesota in drone usage during non-warrant situations in 2025.
See Also: Minnesota Announces New Cat & Dog Import Restrictions Amid New World Screwworm
That’s according to a report compiled by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
State law requires the report of drone use in non warrant situations to be sent to the Minnesota Legislature and posted on the Department of Public Safety’s website.
BCA Report: Rochester Police Deployed Drone Over 1000 Times During Non-Warrant Circumstances in 2025
The Rochester Police Department deployed a drone 1009 times during situations when a warrant was not required. The second highest total reported was 633 by the Minnesota State Patrol.
Rochester police spent $50,760.45 on its drone program, which is funded through 2030 by a Mayo Clinic Community grant, last year, the BCA report says.
Along with submitting the number of drone deployments in non-warrant situations, law enforcement is also required to disclose the non-warrant situation the drone was used in.
Rochester police launched a drone in the aftermath of an emergency situation involving the risk of bodily harm or death 24 times in 2025.
Police used the drone as a security measure during a public event deemed to have had a heightened risk to the safety of participants or bystanders 15 times.
The department's drones were used to conduct a threat assessment ahead of an event 13 times, was used to collect information from a public area due to suspicion of criminal activity once and was flown over a public area for officer training or public relations services twice, the BCA report says.
Drones as First Responders
"It's possible other departments aren't training as much RPD. For example, RPD had just over 140 flights in 2025 for training alone. RPD increased training flights after adding Drones as First Responders, two permanently docked drones," Rochester Police Department Communications Coordinator Amanda Grayson said
Read More: Rochester Police Department to Begin Using Drones as First Responders
The Drones as First Responders program, approved by the Rochester City Council last July, is used to give officers a visual of an emergency scene prior to their arrival.
The department has more information on its drone program on its website.
Can You Identify These Prominent Minnesota Landmarks on Google Earth?
Gallery Credit: Samm Adams
