For months now, residents in cities around the United States have been reporting drones in the sky. It began in New Jersey and has quickly turned into a wave of drone sightings across the country, including Texas. An article from December 2024 on CSIS.org asks, “Why Are There So Many Unexplained Drones Flying Over the United States?”
Even more disturbing is the fact that, for some reason, the government appears to be ignoring the question and the drones themselves, as if the issue will go away on its own. The CSIS article states that federal and state authorities cannot explain the unidentified drones but do not believe the sightings “pose a public safety or national security threat.” This raises the question: how can they be sure it isn’t a security threat if they don’t even know what these drones are or who is operating them?
Reports of foreign objects in U.S. airspace are mounting, yet residents are being told to look the other way. Over the past month, and as recently as this week, Dallas-area residents have seen and recorded video footage of unknown drones and orbs overhead in various locations, particularly over Lake Ray Hubbard. In late December, the White Settlement Police Department also reported unknown drones near military properties.
Half-jokingly, I asked Joe Costa, DeSoto Police Chief, if his new first-responder drones were weaponized yet. Costa, of course, replied “no.” To me, the question is not a matter of “if” but “when,” and Costa and I both agreed—hopefully, not on our watch.
The City of DeSoto Police Department is the first department in the Best Southwest area to introduce first responder drones, according to Costa. While DeSoto and other local cities have used drones for police work, the first responder drone from Paladin Drones is the first of its kind in the region.
Lieutenant R. Heath Penwarden, Support Service Commander SRRG-SRT, explained that Paladin Drones are used to “enhance its small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) operations with the DJI 30T.” The DJI 30T is a highly capable sUAS designed to operate in adverse weather conditions, such as rain and strong winds. Its thermal imaging capability allows for a range of applications, such as locating missing persons, tracking fleeing suspects, and assisting the Fire Department during structure fires. This technology elevates situational awareness and operational efficiency for public safety.
DeSoto’s robust drone program began in 2017, funded through seizure funds. The total cost of the sUAS program, including hardware, software, extended modules like cellular signal devices, unlimited battery replacements, drone replacement warranties, FAA waiver support, and a week-long training program, is $49,000.
DeSoto PD currently has 10 trained sUAS pilots capable of operating the department’s various sUAS, which include:
- One DJI 30T housed in a docking station
- One portable DJI 30T for transportable missions
- One smaller DJI 3 without thermal imaging
- One smaller DJI 3T with thermal imaging
- Two older DJI Mini sUAS for specific missions
The most recent addition, the DJI 30T, shares some capabilities with the department’s existing sUAS. However, Penwarden noted, “It can respond to emergencies directly from its docking station, significantly reducing response time. Unlike previous models that required manual deployment, this sUAS can be remotely activated and piloted to a scene, offering quicker situational awareness and operational efficiency.”
The DJI 30T also operates under a Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) waiver issued by the FAA. This waiver, secured with assistance from Paladin Drones, allows the sUAS to be piloted remotely without the operator maintaining direct visual contact. Equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology, the sUAS integrates with air traffic systems to ensure real-time aircraft surveillance and avoid conflicts in airspace.
The location of the docking station is confidential to ensure the security of the sUAS and prevent tampering or theft. Penwarden emphasized that“Texas law, specifically outlined in Chapter 423 of the Government Code, governs the use of sUAS to protect privacy. These regulations ensure that law enforcement and private entities cannot misuse drone technology for unauthorized surveillance, offering peace of mind to residents.”
This brings us back to the earlier question: Who is flying the unidentified drones in the Dallas area and throughout the United States, and why is the U.S. government acting like they don’t know the answer?
While it is legal to fly a drone in most locations, there are rules. These rules state that a person can fly their drone as a recreational flyer or under the FAA’s Small UAS Rule, following appropriate provisions. Several anonymous law enforcement sources I’ve asked about the unidentified drones believe they are government-related.
Former President Donald Trump recently stated in a press conference, “I am going to give you a report on drones about one day into the administration because I think it is ridiculous that they are not telling you what is going on with the drones.”
An article in Military Embedded Systems has already reported that companies like Palantir and Shield AI are working together using Hivemind technology to allow drones and other uncrewed systems to autonomously detect and respond to threats without direct human control, while also allowing operators to oversee missions in real-time and manage multiple vehicles from a single platform.
Meanwhile, as you look up in the Best Southwest, if you see a drone, it might possibly be DeSoto’s latest addition. “DeSoto PD has consistently been a leader in adopting advanced law enforcement technologies and is the first agency in the area to implement a DFR program,” Penwarden concluded. “The introduction of the DFR program builds on this foundation and represents the next evolution in law enforcement capabilities. By staying proactive and partnering with industry experts, DeSoto PD is setting a benchmark for other departments in the area.”
