The following is a response to online presentation that misrepresents a Taylor Police drone crash that occurred last year. The release was written by Lieutenant Jeff Adamisin of Taylor Police Department Special Services:
Today (January 30, 2026) a “news organization” released a story and video allegedly documenting a crash of one of our BRINC Responder drones. It’s important to clarify that the video referenced does not depict a Taylor Police Department drone and was not created and circulated by any individuals affiliated with the department.
On July 18, 2025, the Taylor Police Department Drone Unit was actively responding to a reported parental kidnapping in the area of 7555 Telegraph. As part of this response, a BRINC Responder drone was deployed and programmed to fly a predetermined route to assist officers in locating the parties involved as quickly and safely as possible.
During the flight, the pilot monitored both the live video feed and the flight map, as required. At that time, the system indicated that the drone had lost communication.
This technology is designed with multiple safety features; when a signal interruption occurs, the drone automatically attempts to reconnect for up to 90 seconds and, if unsuccessful, initiates an automatic return to its docking station.
In this instance, after approximately 120 seconds, the drone did not re-establish communication.
Officers were immediately dispatched to the drone’s last known location with a handheld controller to re-establish visual line of sight. While officers were enroute, emergency dispatch received a call from a resident reporting that a police drone had crashed near the area of Birch and Wohlfeil.
I responded to the scene and confirmed that the responder drone had come to rest in the center of the roadway. Importantly, there were no injuries and no damage to private or public property. The drone itself was a total loss.
BRINC Drones, the parent company, was immediately notified and the drone was returned to the manufacturer for a full diagnostic review. As an added precaution, all departmental drones were grounded until the cause of the incident was identified and additional safety enhancements were implemented.
BRINC Drones determined that the incident was caused by a rare communication failure between the battery and the drone unit. The issue was corrected, and BRINC replaced all existing battery stock used by the Taylor Police Department to ensure the problem was fully resolved.
In addition, parachute systems were installed on all Drone as First Responder (DFR) aircraft to further reduce risk in the unlikely event of a future malfunction.
Drone as First Responder technology is a new and innovative public safety tool that allows officers to respond more quickly, gather critical information, and reduce risk to both officers and the public. As with any emerging technology, occasional issues may occur, particularly during high volumes of deployment. However, as the program has matured, these incidents have become increasingly rare. The Taylor Police Department continues to prioritize safety through training, policy, redundancy and added safeguards such as parachute deployment systems.
The DFR program remains fully operational and has played a key role in the successful resolution of numerous recent police operations. Additionally, the department’s contract with BRINC Drones covers all costs associated with equipment malfunctions, crashes, replacement parts and loaner equipment while repairs are completed, ensuring no financial burden to the City of Taylor or its residents.
The Taylor Police Department remains committed to transparency, public safety, and the responsible use of advanced technology to better serve and protect the citizens of Taylor.