Rogue Drone Detected. Now What?

SkySafe and Motorola Solutions integration highlights the next step in managing low-altitude airspace

At the Motorola Solutions Summit 2026 this week, DRONELIFE had the opportunity to sit down with Melissa Swisher, CRO of SkySafe.io to discuss a growing challenge for public safety agencies.  Without the authority or means to mitigate a drone, what happens after an unauthorized drone is detected?

As drones become more common, agencies are moving beyond simple awareness. The next phase is response, investigation, and accountability. Integration with platforms like the Motorola Solutions [NYSE: MSI] Real Time Crime Center is beginning to close that gap.

From Awareness to Action

A few years ago, many agencies did not consider low-altitude airspace a persistent concern. That has changed.

Swisher explained that drone detection solves a problem that often goes unnoticed until it is too late. Incidents such as prison contraband drops, reconnaissance of critical infrastructure, and targeted surveillance can occur before anyone is aware.  “[Public Safety] needs better and persistent airspace awareness,” she said.

Drones are now used in a wide range of scenarios. Some are benign. Others are not. In many cases, the first challenge is simply knowing a drone is there.

But detection alone is not enough.

Detect, Track, and Act

Once a drone is identified, the question becomes what to do next.

Swisher described a three-step approach: detect, track, and act. Detection platforms provide more than a single alert. They build a pattern of activity over time.

“You can have visibility to see patterns – how many time has that drone been seen before? Where has it been seen before?” she said. “That starts to provide the layer of information that allows the officer to identify the operator, show where that operator is, and go talk to that person.”

This shift is significant. Instead of reacting to a single incident, agencies can begin to understand behavior. That context can help determine intent. A drone that appears once may not raise concern. A drone that returns repeatedly to the same location may indicate surveillance or preparation for a crime.

Integration Brings Airspace Into the RTCC

The integration of SkySafe’s drone detection into the Motorola Solutions ecosystem allows this data to become part of a broader operational picture.

Real Time Crime Centers already combine inputs such as cameras, license plate readers, and radio communications. Adding drone detection brings the airspace into that same environment.

This creates a more complete view for operators. Drone activity can be assessed alongside other data sources in real time.The result is faster decision-making and more coordinated response.

Why Remote ID Isn’t Enough

While regulations such as FAA Remote ID aim to improve transparency, Swisher noted that they do not fully address the problem.

“Remote ID is not enough. Someone who is going to do something bad is generally not going to be compliant,” she said.

This creates a gap between policy and reality. Detection systems must account for both compliant and non-compliant drones. For public safety agencies, this means relying on independent detection capabilities rather than assuming identification data will always be available.

From Detection to Evidence

Drone detection is increasingly tied to forensic capability. SkySafe’s platform provides flight paths and operational data in formats that can be used as evidence. This allows agencies to move beyond real-time awareness and into investigation.

Swisher also described how forensic analysis of recovered drones can uncover additional information.

“We decrypt the drone to find recoverable information that can lead to evidence,” she said. “For example, we have found video on a recovered drone that shows license plates to allow police officers to find the perpetrator.” This ability to connect a drone to an individual or a broader incident is a key step forward. It transforms drone detection from a monitoring tool into part of the investigative process.

Response Doesn’t Always Mean Mitigation

Response options are not always about stopping a drone in flight.

In many cases, mitigation, such as disabling or bringing down a drone, is not necessary, safe or appropriate. Instead, agencies have a range of options depending on the situation.

Detection data can support simple education, such as informing a recreational operator who may not understand the rules. In other cases, it can guide officers directly to an operator for a conversation.

When activity appears intentional or repeated, the same data can support enforcement or prosecution. This layered approach reflects the reality of today’s airspace. Not every drone is a threat, but every drone may require a response.

A New Frontier for Public Safety

Drones are becoming part of everyday life, and their presence will continue to grow. “This is a new frontier – drones are more and more a part of everyday life,” Swisher said.

For public safety agencies, the focus is shifting toward informed response rather than immediate intervention. Detection, context, and evidence now play central roles in how agencies manage drone activity.

As systems become more integrated, the question is no longer just how to detect a drone. It is how to respond – appropriately, proportionally, and effectively – once you do.

Read more:

• SkySafe Introduces New Forensics Service to Strengthen Drone Incident Investigations
• Counter-Drone Systems Begin to Shape Civil Airspace Rules
• Will States Be Ready with Counter Drone Tech for the FIFA World Cup?