CSPD ready to launch fleet of drones

CSPD is far from the first police department to incorporate UAV technology into its arsenal of tactical tools.

However, the department is making an investment of both money and manpower that rivals nearly any of them, and officers believe it will pay off.

The last time CSPD had an eye in the sky was before tough economic times forced the city to sell it’s two helicopters in 2010.

Lt. Dan Lofgren was part of that helicopter tactical team, and now he’s putting together a new team of a different kind.

The goal is the same: to provide a similar aerial advantage. However, this one comes in a much smaller package.

“We see it not only for enhancing investigations, but certainly for improving officer safety also,” said Lofgren.

One of the biggest challenges facing departments in establishing drone programs is having enough drones and enough officers trained to fly in order to quickly deploy a drone before a situation is over.

To address that, CSPD has purchased a total of 8 drones, with at least one intended for each of the four patrol districts, and up to 40 officers will be trained and certified to fly them.

“13 have completed all training and are deployable right now out of the 40,” Lofgren said.

Making up the eight UAV systems are DJI Maviks, DJI Phantom 4s, and a much larger and expesive DJI Inspire 2.

The different drones will be used based on the needs, some for documenting accident scenes, others for finding a fugitive on the run.

One of the Phantom models will even include an infrared camera for operations at night when officers are most at risk.

“If we can use this tool, this piece of equipment, to make the first contact on locating a suspect, versus sending officer in there and encountering a suspect that is waiting for them who could be armed and often times are armed, that we’re searching for, that’s tremendous,” said Lofgren.

CSPD also wants the public to know that it will be sensitive to citizens’ privacy, and that the drones aren’t meant to patrol the area like the helicopters were, but simply to assist with specific scenarios.

The department has invested about $30,000 in equipment so far, and that doesn’t include the 10-15 hours each officer will have spend studying to become an FAA Part 107-certified drone pilot, as well as learning to fly each of the drones after that.

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