Protecting 20,000+ Attendees: Drone Security at Bellevue’s Snowflake Lane

Kemper Development enhanced security at Bellevue’s Snowflake Lane parade by deploying Axon Dedrone to monitor and respond to drone activity in real time. The system provides full aerial visibility within a one-mile radius and enables response teams to act in under 10 seconds of detection. As a result, the organization has helped ensure a safer environment for more than 20,000 attendees.

Challenge

Every holiday season, Snowflake Lane draws more than 20,000 spectators and features 200 performers across a two-block stretch in downtown Bellevue. For Kemper Development, which oversees the event, that volume of people presents a significant public safety challenge. While managing large crowds is standard, recent global events have demonstrated the risk of drones being used as threats in public gatherings.

Drones are now a primary weapon in global conflict, and we realized that could happen here, so had a knowledge gap—we didn’t know what was above us. The Dedrone detection system provides many important tools for us, that is all encompassed in one system.

• Carl Kleinknecht, Director of Security Kemper Development

Solution

Kemper Development turned to Axon, implementing Dedrone, a comprehensive drone detection and mitigation solution, to protect the community.

Deployed during the parade, Dedrone’s antenna system was operational within five minutes. The system monitored all drone activity within a one-mile radius, issuing two-tiered alerts—first when a drone entered the perimeter, and second when it crossed into private airspace.

The implementation process for Dedrone has been very seamless for us. Usually within 5 minutes of getting the antenna set up we are seeing drones flying throughout the area.

• Jacob Kimerer, Assistant Security Manager

Results

Dedrone didn’t just add another layer of security — it transformed how Kemper Development monitors and responds to aerial threats, delivering measurable improvements that elevated the safety of one of the region’s largest public events:

• <10 seconds: Time from drone detection to deployment of response team

• 2 alert zones: Perimeter and property-line detection ensures accurate threat escalation

• 1-mile: Monitoring radius for aerial threats

• Reduction in drone incidents: year-over-year drop in unauthorized drone flights

By closing the aerial visibility gap, Kemper Development increased community safety without disrupting the festive atmosphere. The presence of the Dedrone system also acted as a deterrent, leading to fewer drone incursions year over year.

Kemper’s proactive security measures, powered by Axon technology, created a secure environment for families, performers and city officials — ensuring that Snowflake Lane remains a beloved and safe tradition.