Contrary to what some may believe, drones aren’t just cool gadgets. They’re also powerful tools that help our local police do their job more safely and effectively, making a huge difference for our town.
The South Windsor Police Department has started using drones as part of its public safety toolkit. In early January, the South Windsor Police department deployed both K-9 units and drones during an assault investigation on Pierce Road. This is an example of how this technology can assist officers in real time situations. The drones helped officers gain a different perspective of the scene, making it easier to locate the suspects and gather more information.
South Windsor Police Officer Kolcharno elaborated on the benefits of drones.
“It has a really good zoom capability, so during the day, we can zoom in with the normal camera and just have a good bird’s-eye view,” Kolcharno said.
The drones help to give officers a clear example of someone they would be looking for, like the color of their shirt, their face description, and the person’s whereabouts.
The controlling of the drones themselves is done remotely.
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A drone with remote controller and FPV goggles on a table. (Photo courtesy of SWPD)
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A close up of a drone that is used by the South Windsor Police Department. (Photo courtesy of SWPD)
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A close up of a drone used by the South Windsor Police Department in a parking lot. (Photo courtesy of SWPD)
“We control it from a controller, and I can put it up wherever I have the drone in my car with me. I’ll take it out, put it up in the air, and it goes up to 400 feet, and then I can go within a certain distance in my car as long as I can see the drone,” Kolcharno told The Prowl.
Since helicopters cannot be used in South Windsor, drones are used instead and can be launched almost instantly, far faster than even calling a helicopter or waiting for officers to locate the scene. The drones can arrive at any location while officers are still en route giving a real-time video that helps responders prepare. This fast response can be critical in life or death situations like missing person cases or serious accidents.
Drones in South Windsor aren’t just used for dramatic crime scenes. In recent years, according to the South Windsor annual town report, they’ve also been used to locate missing people. In one search for a elderly woman with dementia, drones helped officers scan larger areas more quickly than would have been possible on foot.
As drone technology continues to evolve, awareness and responsible use within the community will remain key. So, next time you look up and see a drone buzzing overhead, you might think twice about how such a small device could be making such a big difference in South Windsor.
