In this episode of Seven Points, hosts Warren Trent and Sgt. Kameron Lee take the podcast on location to a working hangar at Falcon Field to talk about one of the fastest-growing technologies in law enforcement. Their guest is Sgt. Brian Hon, Aviation UAS Program Manager for the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

Sgt. Hon shares his journey from growing up in Tucson to serving in law enforcement for more than two decades. Along the way, he describes how a career that began in patrol and the Vehicular Crimes Unit eventually led him to pioneer DPS’s drone program. What started with a single off-the-shelf drone used to document crash scenes has grown into a statewide program that supports investigations, tactical operations, disaster response, and public safety missions.

Listeners will learn how drones are helping troopers map crash scenes in minutes instead of hours, locate suspects during searches, assist SWAT operations, and safely assess hazardous situations. Sgt. Hon also explains how drones were deployed during major flooding in Globe, helping crews search damaged areas and assess infrastructure.

The conversation also addresses privacy concerns and the strict policies that guide drone use. Sgt. Hon makes it clear that drones are response tools designed to improve safety for officers and the public.

It is a fascinating look at how emerging technology is transforming modern policing in Arizona.