New drones for US police departments

Drone stock image

The city of Gray, Georgia, and the town of Summerville, South Carolina, have both acquired new uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs)

Georgia’s Gray Police Department (GPD) has announced that it has acquired a new drone. The aircraft – model unspecified – is equipped with flight, zoom, and thermal cameras.

It will be used for a range of missions, including aerial surveillance and missing person cases, and is expected to enter full operation within the next month.

The drone and the cost of training personnel to operate it was approximately $23,000, and was funded through money seized through drug cases.

New drones for Summerville

Summerville, South Carolina, has also launched a new drone program. The town has acquired two drones – one for use by the local government, and the other for the police.

The latter will use their aircraft to locate missing people, track suspects, and conduct general surveillance. The former will use their drone to promote local projects, such as new buildings and landscaping.

Drones are becoming increasingly popular with US police – the police department of Jacksonville, Illinois, also announced plans to acquire a drone last month.