Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department Reveals New Drones

It’s the latest thing in law enforcement technology–Aerial Surveillance Systems.

You and I would call them drones, and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department  will be using them for specific purposes from now on.

Helicopters are expensive–150 to 300 dollars an hour. But occasionally first respondents need to get a good look at a situation before they move in.

That’s why this Aerial Surveillance System is such a valuable tool.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department now has 5- people trained to use it—and they demonstrated its capabilities at Hamilton county River Park.

‘”We want to make sure the public understands, this is not about spying on people, or looking in their bedroom windows, this is all about following the law, making sure that this is supportive of good policing,” said Sheriff Jim Hammond of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department.

The drone pilots receive 20 hours of instruction, and every time its used, there’s a backup pilot a few feet away.

Deputy Marty Dunn,  an HCSO Pilot stated,   “Within an hour, we can have multiple UAS pieces of equipment in the air …looking and searching for a lost child, an Alzheimer patient who has walked off.”

Or it can be used to collect evidence. The drone got a good look at this automobile which simulated a hostage situation.

“This would be used as opposed to sending up an officer, whether its a tactical officer or patrolman..up to that car, to where the danger is. I can fly right up beside him. Its like the bomb squad using a robot to go up and take a look at that explosive device,” said Deputy Dunn.

There are some legal requirements before the system is used.

Neal Pinkston, the District Attorney General  “There’s no blanket rule that we give that..they don’t expect that, its just generally a case by case analysis…depending on the facts of the case. How the law applies to that its generally how you go about answering those types of questions.”

The Aerial Surveillance system is in place for the next time it’s needed.