Marshall County could soon be employing the use of drones in law enforcement and emergency situations.
During Monday morning’s County Commissioners meeting, Marshall County Prosecuting Attorney Nelson Chipman made the request to move forward with the purchase. By using the drones, emergency responders say they can use them to better understand car accidents. Law enforcement could also use them for drug cases.
Chipman says the “unmanned aerial vehicles” as he called them, have a flight time of 23 minutes per battery.
“It’s a rechargeable battery, of course,” says Chipman. “And that’s why three batteries is optimum to land it, insert a fresh battery, it takes off, the battery that was just used is put in the car charger. It takes about a half hour, if you needed it.”
A demonstration showed a recent three-vehicle accident on old Lincoln Highway. Both the video and photography capabilities of the device were on display.
Just this year, the Indiana General Assembly adopted legislation outlining the laws by which drones can be operated, including: probable cause and with the permission of the landowner.
The manufacturer of the drone proposed for purchase says that they can be operated from up to 1.2-miles away. Chipman says that two drones would be purchased – one stationed with the Indiana State Police Bremen Post, the other with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department.
Chipman says there are additional uses, including training for 12 pilots upon purchase.
“The possibilities of a disaster event like a tornado scene that has already taken place to survey an area: phenomenal,” says Chipman. “Flood area: phenomenal. This is a new technology and we’re very excited about its potential.”
The Prosecutor’s office has already identified budgetary line items that will pay for the devices. Other funds could become available if a certain percentage of the incidents the drones are used for involve drugs.
The Commissioners approved the purchase unanimously.
