During the Plainfield City Council meeting on Monday, members unanimously approved the Police Department’s request to acquire two additional drones. Police Director James Abney noted that this purchase would double the department’s current drone count from two to four, enhancing their operational flexibility. The acquisition cost for the drones will not exceed $30,362.22.
“I’m trying to expand our footprint,” Abney stated. “I’ll use them to patrol different areas during events, such as National Night Out, the parade, other things. I just want to give us more coverage of what could potentially go wrong or what is going on in crowds or different situations so that our footprint is larger. I can’t put a cop everywhere, but with drones I can move them more efficiently throughout the city.”
Director Abney mentioned that while some municipalities deploy drones for routine service calls, Plainfield is not at that stage yet. However, the new drones will significantly improve the department’s efficiency. They deploy drones for a variety of tasks. They are invaluable for searching for missing children or elderly residents. There are numerous applications for drones. Currently, their primary uses include search and rescue operations and potentially investigative work.
Abney acknowledged that integrating new technology can be challenging, but noted that younger officers, who often have experience with technology and video games, are eager to adopt these advancements. Many police departments, especially larger ones, are moving in this direction.
Image source: The Bulletin