With the use of drones being fairly new in law enforcement, earlier last year, the Branch County Sheriff’s Department contacted other departments nationwide regarding the use of drones, as well as their associated policies and procedures. Through this research, it was determined that the drones have evolved such that they are and would be an asset to community safety and as such established a Drone Project fund through the Branch County Community Foundation.
The Sheriff’s Department belief is that with the drones having the ability to see more, whether from a higher elevation or with thermal camera capabilities, they will have the ability to keep the community safer, along with their officers.
Branch County Sheriff John Pollack appeared with Delaney in the Morning to discuss the project.
Late last year, through substantial donations from the Coldwater Township Sunrise Rotary and Union City Rotary clubs along with generous public donations to this fund, the Branch County Sheriff’s department was able to purchase a multi-purpose drone.
This drone can and has already been used for searches and rescues, critical incident overwatch, crash and crime scene mapping along with assisting with felony fugitive apprehension.
Recently, a drone presentation was given to the Coldwater Twp. Sunrise Rotary club by the Sheriff’s Department.
As a result of a matching District 6360 Foundation Karl Sandelin grant, the club presented the Sheriff’s Department with an additional $2,500 for more accessory equipment, training, and a smaller, more quickly deployable sister drone.
courtesy of Rick Merrill
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