North Bergen Police Launch Drone-First Responder Program, First in Hudson County

North Bergen, NJ – The North Bergen Police Department has launched a drone-as-first-responder program, becoming the first municipality in Hudson County to integrate unmanned aerial systems into public safety operations. Only four other municipalities in New Jersey currently utilize similar technology.

The NBPD UAS Division is led by Sgt. Sean Rahbari, a certified FAA remote pilot and member of the Hudson County Regional SWAT Team. The unit consists of four specially trained officers.

“This is a historic moment for public safety in North Bergen,” said Mayor Nicholas Sacco. “By adopting this innovative technology, we’re staying ahead of the curve, using smart, safe tools that help protect our residents and support our officers on the ground.”

The department uses Paladin drones, which operate within a three-mile radius and fly at about 200 feet. The system uses LTE transmission to respond to emergency calls prioritized by NBPD supervisors. Each flight is recorded and stored in a secure database.

“This drone program is a game-changer for how we approach emergency response,” said Public Safety Commissioner Allen Pascual. “We now have the capabilities of an aviation unit without putting a pilot in the air or dealing with the extreme costs and safety risks of helicopters—something that’s especially important given recent aerial accidents in the region.”

The program was implemented one month ago and was funded entirely through criminal forfeiture funds. No taxpayer dollars were used. The department stated that each flight uses approximately 5 percent battery per mile and drones recharge fully in 25 minutes.

“This program took nearly a year to get off the ground—from FAA licensing to implementation—but it was worth every step,” said Chief Robert Farley Jr. “Our UAS Division is already proving invaluable in search operations, scene assessments, and supporting patrol units. We’re proud to lead Hudson County in deploying this kind of life-saving technology.”