Credit: Upper Makefield police
The Upper Makefield Township Police Department has announced the acquisition of a drone to enhance their operations.
The new drone, a DJI Mavic 3T, is equipped with thermal imaging, a loudspeaker system, a spotlight, and the capability to cover a radius of up to nine miles. While the drone will be able to cover a distance of nine miles, FAA restrictions limit it to a line of sight of three miles, the department said.
With a top speed of 47 mph in sport mode, the drone will allow for a rapid response to emergency calls, police said.
Officer Eric Farra, a four-year veteran of the department, has been certified to operate the drone. He has taken a public safety drone class and obtained his FAA Part 107 license.
The drone will be used to assist with evacuations, crash investigations, crowd surveillance, and disaster preparation, police said.
“As technology advances, we must evaluate how we can use those developments to better serve and protect you. Although, we do our best to cover the township from the ground, we wanted to be able to cover you from the air,” the department posted to Facebook.
The drone acquisition was supported by Chief Mark Schmidt and township officials.
“As we continue to evolve as an agency, we will keep you apprised of the changes we are making to ensure we meet and exceed your expectations and provide you the best service possible,” police said.
Drones have become more common in public safety in recent years, with a number of local police departments, fire companies, and county agencies using them.
