Montgomery County Police Department’s Drone as First Responder program will expand to Bethesda, broadening the use of drone technology in policing, County Executive Marc Elrich and local officials announced Wednesday.

The program, which first launched in November 2023, is already operational in Silver Spring, Wheaton/Glenmont and Gaithersburg/Montgomery Village. With the expansion, drones will now be deployed in the county’s 2nd District, covering Bethesda, officials said.

County leaders have previously said the program has been a game-changer in law enforcement. Since its launch, the drone program has conducted more than 2,000 flights, responding to 2,064 calls for service. In 1,439 of those incidents, a drone arrived on the scene before officers, according to its latest statistics.

Montgomery County officials have said the program helps provide real-time assistance and improves resource deployment.