Situation
In January 2026, the Cincinnati Police Department (CPD) received a ShotSpotter alert indicating gunfire in a residential area. Within seconds of the alert, CPD’s Drone Unit was deployed to the scene to assist officers on the ground. The drone captured real-time aerial footage showing two individuals fleeing from a vehicle through neighborhood streets following the shooting incident.
The drone operator maintained visual contact with one of the suspects, who appeared injured and was seen limping, while communicating updates to responding officers. This enabled ground units to rapidly converge on the suspect’s location.
Results
The coordinated response led to the successful detention of a suspect shortly after the ShotSpotter alert, with officers locating and arresting him using real-time tracking information from the responding drone. Following the arrest, the individual was charged with multiple felony offenses, including felonious assault, aggravated robbery, and improper discharge of a firearm into a habitation.
