Albuquerque –
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office has officially been awarded the 2025 People’s Choice: Lifesaving Achievement Award at Skydio’s Aerial Achievement Awards ceremony.
Yesterday, Sheriff John Allen and members of his team accepted the award at Skydio Ascend 2025, joining public safety leaders from across the country, including representatives from the NYPD and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police, to highlight the agency’s innovative use of drone technology in life-saving missions.
The recognition follows a February 2025 incident in which BCSO deputies responded to a high-stakes call involving two children, ages seven and nine, armed with a loaded handgun. Utilizing a Skydio drone, deputies were able to safely monitor the unfolding situation from above, gathering real-time intelligence without escalating the tense standoff. Thanks to the aerial view and strategic insight the drone provided, deputies successfully disarmed the children without the use of force.
“The use of Skydio technology helped our deputies navigate one of the most difficult and emotionally charged calls of their careers. It gave us the ability to make informed, life-saving decisions that prevented tragedy,” said Sheriff John Allen of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Prior to winning the award Sheriff Allen stated, “We are honored to be recognized as a finalist and proud to showcase how technology and compassion can work together to protect lives in our community.”
The Lifesaving Achievement Award celebrates outstanding missions where Skydio drones have directly contributed to protecting lives. BCSO earned this honor after being selected through a public vote as the winner of Skydio’s People’s Choice Award.
Looking ahead, BCSO plans to expand its drone program further through its upcoming Drone as First Responder (DFR) initiative, which will allow drones to be dispatched ahead of deputies to provide critical aerial perspectives during emergency calls.
With New Mexico’s largest county under its jurisdiction, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office continues to lead in leveraging technology for public safety. These awards underscore BCSO’s commitment to innovation, transparency, and community-centered policing.
Skydio is the leading U.S. drone manufacturer and world leader in autonomous flight technology. Skydio drones are used by public safety agencies, utilities, and defense organizations to conduct safer, faster, and more effective operations in the field.
For more information about the Aerial Achievement Awards and to view the six videos that were in running for the 2025 Skydio Lifesaving Achievement Award, visit: https://www.skydio.com/customers/awards#voting.
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