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 responsible for securing part of the Boston Marathon route - an event that draws hundreds of thousands of spectators. After the tragic events in 2013,the focus shifted sharply toward proactive security and threat detection. In recent years, the widespread availability of consumer drones has introduced a new risk. While state and federal partners previously supported drone detection, in 2025 Wellesley was informed that those assets would not be available. With no Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) over their section of the route, Wellesley needed its own way to detect drones - and more importantly, find the pilot quickly and independently.
After researching options, Wellesley PD reached out to Dronetag just one week before the marathon. The response was immediate - two RIDER units were delivered and ready for deployment in time for the event. The setup was fast and intuitive. Both experienced drone pilots 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 and their pilots. Officers used RIDER in mobile response teams, scanning in real time and keeping track of law enforcement drones flying over the course.
1
Autonomous Detection & Tracking
RIDER gave officers a direct view of where drones and pilots were located - reducing delays, confusion, and reliance on third-party instructions.
2
Minimal Training Required
Within an hour of setup, both technical and nontechnical users could operate the devices confidently.
3
Efficient Deployment
Two RIDER units covered the entire Wellesley section of the marathon. In the future, deploying three units (east, central, west) is seen as ideal.
4
No Incidents Reported
There were no unauthorized drone incursions. Officers successfully tracked all law enforcement drones operating 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.
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