Wellesley PD Protects Boston Marathon with Dronetag RIDER
4 drone detections at distance of up to 2 km (1.2 mi)
DJI Mavic 3, DJI M3T and DJI M30T among detected drones
Improved autonomy and decision-making at street level
Seamless use of the Dronetag RIDER with minimal training
About Wellesley Police Department’s Challenge
The Wellesley Police Department is responsiblefor securing part of the Boston Marathon route- an event that draws hundreds of thousandsof spectators. After the tragic events in 2013,the focus shifted sharply toward proactivesecurity and threat detection. In recent years, the widespread availability ofconsumer drones has introduced a new risk.While state and federal partners previouslysupported drone detection, in 2025 Wellesleywas informed that those assets would not beavailable. With no Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR)over their section of the route, Wellesleyneeded its own way to detect drones - andmore importantly, find the pilot quickly andindependently.
After researching options, Wellesley PD reached out to Dronetag just one week before the marathon. The responsewas immediate - two RIDER units were delivered and readyfor deployment in time for the event. The setup was fast and intuitive. Both experienced dronepilots and non-technical officers were able to operate the RIDER effectively with minimal instruction. The Dronetag Appwas easy to connect and use on mobile devices, and thesystem provided real-time position data for both drones andtheir pilots. Officers used RIDER in mobile response teams, scanning inreal time and keeping track of law enforcement drones flyingover the course.
1
Autonomous Detection & Tracking
RIDER gave officers adirect view of wheredrones and pilots werelocated - reducingdelays, confusion, andreliance on third-partyinstructions.
2
Minimal Training Required
Within an hour of setup,both technical and nontechnical users couldoperate the devicesconfidently.
3
Efficient Deployment
Within an hour of setup, both technical and nontechnical users couldoperate the devicesconfidently.
4
No Incidents Reported
There were nounauthorized droneincursions. Officers successfully tracked alllaw enforcement dronesoperating in the area.
After learning of the last-minute loss of federal drone detection support, Wellesley PD reached out to Dronetag in a hurry. Despite the time zone gap, Dronetag responded quickly, offering virtual support and shipping devices immediately.
.png)
.svg)
