2026 Trends Every Public Safety Leader Should Watch
Public safety leaders are entering 2026 with a mix of pressure and possibility. Communities expect enhanced services, while agencies work to meet those expectations with limited resources and workforce demands. Over the past year, the public safety field saw a wave of new technologies becoming more commonly adopted by agencies such as AI, cloud applications and data-driven tools. These new approaches to interagency collaboration have moved from early concepts to everyday practice in many instances. This briefing examines the trends gaining momentum in 2026 and what they mean for the agencies working to deliver reliable, mission-aligned service.
Drones as Essential Assets
According to Versaterm’s 2025 Public Safety Trends Survey, drone technology is seeing widespread adoption across public safety agencies, with 76% already using drones and 17% considering implementation. Drone capabilities extend well beyond law enforcement, as fire departments and EMS increasingly rely on drones to support everyday operations, from situational awareness to search and rescue. These tools are also being integrated into standard agency workflows and the systems that support them, such as Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) platforms. What used to require separate systems and manual coordination now allows agencies to deploy drone flights as easily as dispatching any police, fire or EMS unit. Purposeful integrations like these provide incident commanders with a more comprehensive view while streamlining operations.
In 2026, we will see drones and Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs become essential tools in everyday public safety operations. DFR programs allow agencies to remotely deploy drones ahead of emergency personnel. These tools can then relay important information about the scene back to responders, improving real-time awareness and allowing for more informed decision-making. We will also see a focus on new approaches for this technology, such as longer flight-duration drones that can remain airborne and respond immediately to incidents, providing faster coverage. What was once a “wish list” initiative for large departments, will now become a practical, foundational asset for agencies of all sizes.
In the coming year, approvals for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations will become more streamlined. Rather than relying on complex individual waivers, standardized BVLOS rules will make it easier for agencies to expand DFR programs and streamline deployment. As these policies take effect, more detailed governmental guidelines regarding agency transparency and data usage will be key to both ensuring safety and maintaining public trust. This is evident through the White House’s release of new cybersecurity guidelines. Among other standards, these requirements aim to steer agencies toward purchasing drones from U.S. manufacturers to prevent the possibility of unauthorized data capture or covert surveillance. However, these new requirements do not impact previously purchased drones currently licensed in the U.S., including foreign manufacturers. These evolving guidelines reflect growing government attention on agency drone programs, with similar requirements expected over the next year.
Supporting Public Safety With Conversational AI
Artificial intelligence shifted from experimental to everyday technology in 2025, with conversational AI becoming embedded in an increasing number of public safety workflows. By offloading repetitive, lower-priority work, AI-powered solutions give first responders more capacity to focus on urgent incidents.
Versaterm’s 2025 Public Safety Trends Survey shows that interest in artificial intelligence continues to grow, with 68% of agencies looking to explore new or additional applications that use AI within the next one to two years. In 2026, conversational AI is expected to expand beyond basic functions to support more interactive and community engagement-focused capabilities.
With the growing number of solutions that rely on conversational AI and large language models (LLMs), agencies and policy makers will devote more attention to transparency and public communication. This year, we have already seen new regulations and transparency requirements impact the public safety field. Utah’s S.B. 180 requires agencies to have a policy concerning the use of generative AI. It also mandates a disclaimer to be included in police reports and other law enforcement records if AI was used to completely or partially create them. In October, California introduced S.B. 243 that requires similar transparency efforts. Explanations of what these systems do and how data is used will be increasingly expected and central to maintaining public trust. As more AI-powered tools enter the field of public safety, their value will be measured by their ability to create time for high-priority work without compromising accountability and community confidence.
Connecting Responders With Cloud Technology
This year we saw agencies shifting critical systems from on-premises infrastructure to cloud-based solutions, a trend that will continue in 2026. Cloud platforms provide secure, scalable environments that make it easier for departments to share data and sustain operations during times of increased demand. They also better position agencies to adopt new capabilities without major hardware overhauls.
Like drones, cloud technology keeps first responders better connected. With cloud-based solutions, personnel can access real-time data from the field and collaborate across jurisdictions. Agencies benefit from simplified IT management, automatic updates and faster disaster recovery. These solutions can be especially helpful in smaller agencies with limited technical staff, as cloud-based models reduce internal burden by removing server maintenance.
Misconceptions about cost, security and the difficulty of on-premises to cloud-based transitions are some of the major factors that keep agencies from making the switch. In the new year, technology vendors will play a bigger role in closing this knowledge gap around cloud-based technology. To be effective partners, vendors need to understand an agency’s priorities and concerns and invest the time to explain each step of the migration.
With cloud-based tools, agencies can better adhere to security and compliance requirements while staying focused on delivering high-quality service. Major cloud providers understand and anticipate the necessary protections needed to safeguard cloud data and invest heavily in dedicated, world-class security teams. Through advanced features like continuous monitoring, automated threat detection and advanced encryption, cloud-based technology can offer more secure hosting than on-premises platforms. These providers also simplify compliance with key public safety standards like Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) by providing pre-certified environments, ensuring organizations are up to standard.
The transition to cloud-based platforms establishes a modern, flexible foundation that enables agencies to adopt next-generation technologies. As we see AI further expand in the field of public safety, cloud-based users will be better positioned to adopt these new capabilities and take advantage of an elevated number of integrated tools compared to on-premises users.
Building a Culture of Wellness
Wellness conversations in public safety have become more open and normalized over recent years, a positive shift in a field where stigma has traditionally limited access to support. Working in a high-stress environment, first responders are exposed to an increased number of traumatic events that can manifest into struggles with mental well-being. According to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, as many as 37% of firefighters meet criteria for PTSD at some point in their careers. These numbers aren’t just limited to fire departments. A 2025 study found that telecommunicators are at an increased risk of experiencing mental health conditions like PTSD, depression and anxiety,
In the new year, agencies will increasingly move beyond reactive crisis intervention toward holistic and proactive wellness strategies. According to Versaterm’s Public Safety Trends Survey, 86% of respondents say they personally support the expansion of health-wellness resources in their agencies. Of those surveyed, emergency intervention systems and peer support case management solutions were the most compelling. In 2026, we will see these teams take on an active role in their organizations, checking in with staff before warning signs escalate further. Routine wellness checks and digital self-assessment platforms will become standard for personnel, much like equipment inspections or physical screenings.
While it’s important that these resources are provided, the real obstacle is addressing any resistance to using them. A 2024 study of the Fargo Police Department (FPD) found that 53% of FPD officers agreed that most officers think that being treated for a mental illness is a sign of personal weakness, and that most police officers would not seek professional help if they were experiencing mental illness. As wellness programs become more deeply ingrained in public safety agencies, the initiative will be to not just provide resources but also actively encourage and expect personnel to take advantage of them regularly.
Leaders will be expected to not only promote available resources, but to participate in wellness efforts and recognize early signs of distress. Leaders must champion their wellness programs and make them an active part of life in an agency in order for staff to do the same. This proactive, integrated approach reflects a deeper recognition that responders’ well-being is essential to agency readiness and community service.
Collaboration Powered by Purpose-Built Integrations
As public safety agencies become more supported by technology, seamless platform integration is essential. True integrations do more than enable basic communication between systems. They empower agencies to create unified workflows, access real-time information and deliver faster, coordinated responses with less administrative burden.
In 2026, integrations will go deeper, enabling workflow-level automation across CAD, RMS, analytics, situational awareness and resource allocation platforms. This purposeful interoperability allows agencies to act decisively using a shared operational picture, even across jurisdictions. Major public safety events, including international gatherings like the World Cup, will highlight the importance of solutions that share data and adapt to complex, multi-agency environments.
To achieve this interoperability, vendors will increasingly open their ecosystems by supporting third-party solutions and delivering flexible integrations. Agencies will prioritize tools designed for interconnectivity and select vendors committed to participative, transparent partnerships. The result will be technology that truly works together, streamlining collaboration and improving outcomes for communities regardless of incident scale.
Responsible Innovation for a Safer Future
As public safety agencies continue to embrace innovation and integrate advanced technologies like drones, AI and wellness programs, 2026 promises to be a pivotal year for transforming emergency response and community safety. By adopting innovative tools thoughtfully, agencies will enhance operational efficiency and improve responder well-being, all while strengthening public trust.
The future of public safety lies in purposeful collaboration between technology and the people dedicated to protecting their communities, ensuring smarter and more compassionate responses in an ever-evolving landscape.
Keep reading about the topics we discussed:
