Sheriff’s Corner: UAV Technology & Law Enforcement
Sheriff Tracy Murphree implemented an Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) program in 2019. Lieutenant Robert Hamilton oversees the program, which currently has five FAA Part 107-certified UAV pilots. The training is a six-week course that covers the laws and regulations and how to operate Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as drones.
Each deployment of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) requires a pilot in command (PIC) and a Visual Observer (VO). The VO’s responsibility is to provide air traffic control for the PIC. UAVs have become common in our society along with first responders. They allow officers, firefighters, and emergency management personnel to evaluate situations safely and more rapidly than ever before while being much more economical and obtainable than manned aircraft. Most departments could not afford to purchase or maintain a helicopter or airplane. Now, departments can have many of the same benefits for a small fraction of the cost.
The Denton County Sheriff’s Office collaborated with the UNT Police Department to host a joint drone training exercise in November. This training was sponsored by Dronescense Software Company and Darley Drone Company. The training centered on search and rescue tactics, addressing various challenges that professionals may encounter in the field. Five distinct obstacles were set up, each requiring deputies, officers, and firefighters to employ different techniques. The obstacles were timed, and Dronescense Software and Darley Drone Company offered prizes to the winners.
The Figure Eight Obstacle emphasized on individual dexterity, direction, orientation, and the control of the UAV in a confined space. The Obstacle Course included hoops, tight spaces, and sudden turns, which tested both the drone’s maneuverability and the pilot’s skills while improving gross motor skills, strength, coordination, and spatial awareness. The Landing Zone obstacle assessed the pilot’s depth perception, requiring them to land the UAV with all four feet on a pad placed 30 yards away, without using a screen. Indoor flights allowed pilots to concentrate solely on controlling the aircraft in confined spaces, without the complications of wind and other weather conditions. Night flights helped them improve their depth perception and navigate perspective illusions.
UAV Technology is a huge asset to our county as it can help monitor: traffic collisions, surveillance of criminal activity, fugitive apprehension, natural disasters, assessing hazardous areas, crime scene documentation, critical incidents, as well as search and rescue of vulnerable or missing persons.
Some citizens believe that the use of drones intrudes on their privacy. The Denton County Sheriff’s Office values the constitutional rights and privacy of all citizens. UAS technology will be employed in accordance with these rights and will only be used with judicial authorization when necessary.
As technology advances, the Denton County Sheriff’s Office will continue to utilize these resources to create a safer environment for both citizens and employees, all while being fiscally responsible.
