Wichita Police and QuikTrip Announce Drone Program Donation

The new drone hive will house three drones and support the police department's Drone as First Responder program.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 12:19am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a drone propeller blade, its metallic texture and details sharply in focus against a pitch-black background, creating a stark, gritty investigative aesthetic.A new public-private partnership will expand the Wichita Police Department's drone capabilities to improve emergency response times.Wichita Today

The Wichita Police Department is hosting a press conference on Monday to announce a $600,000 donation from QuikTrip that will fund the department's Drone as First Responder program for the next five years. The donation will go towards establishing a new drone hive on the roof of a QuikTrip location in downtown Wichita, which will house three drones and their docking station.

Why it matters

The Drone as First Responder program is intended to reduce emergency response times and provide police with more real-time information about unfolding situations on the ground. This public-private partnership between the police department and a major local business highlights the growing role of drone technology in public safety.

The details

The new drone hive will be located at the QuikTrip store at the corner of Washington Street and Douglas Avenue in downtown Wichita. After the initial five-year funding period from QuikTrip, the city will pay $61,000 per year to maintain the drone fleet and program.

  • The Wichita City Council approved the $600,000 QuikTrip donation in December 2025.
  • The Wichita Police Department will hold a press conference on Monday, April 18, 2026 to announce the new drone program.

The players

Wichita Police Department

The municipal law enforcement agency for the city of Wichita, Kansas.

QuikTrip

A major convenience store chain headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma that operates over 800 stores across the United States.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to partner with QuikTrip to expand our drone capabilities and bring this innovative technology to the streets of Wichita.”

— Gordon Smith, Wichita Police Chief

What’s next

The new drone hive is expected to become operational in the next few months after the press conference announcement.

The takeaway

This public-private partnership demonstrates how local businesses can play a role in supporting innovative public safety initiatives like drone programs, which have the potential to improve emergency response and situational awareness for law enforcement.