Merrillville officers were dispatched to a call April 26 on 58th Avenue and found a person who had been shot, the release said. While medics transported the person to a hospital, police launched a drone into the air to see if they could locate any possible suspects in the vicinity.
The drone helped officers "maintain a secured visual perimeter" of the area where they believe the suspects were and indicated which areas to send officers, according to the release.
"We were able to lock it down and make sure nobody got in or out because we had the drone out," Chief Kosta Nuses said. "It gave us a really good game plan to go off of."
The suspects then came forward, the release said, and agreed to be questioned about the incident.
The department bought the drones after the Merrillville Town Council approved a $150,000 amount from the town's American Rescue Plan Act funds in December for the equipment, the release said. Council President Rick Bella, D-5th, said he is pleased to see the department implement this new technology and that it has worked so far.
"My personal firsthand experience as a certified (Federal Aviation Administration) drone pilot adds an extra layer of understanding and expertise to the initiative and I am pleased that my fellow ARPA committee members approved the expenditure," Bella said. "It's a commendable step towards modernizing crime-fighting techniques and ultimately ensuring the safety of both officers and the community."
The drones can be used in different ways, such as inside a home or building where a window has been broken to check if any suspects are inside. In a situation where a suspect has fled a crime scene, the drones can help establish a perimeter of an area and monitor it, according to the release.
"It's safer for the officers and it's even safer for the suspect because we know what we're dealing with," Nuses said. "These tools help us better prepare to handle different situations."
Police hope to use the drones on calls more frequently, Nuses said in the release. They will partner with the Lake County Sheriff's Department, who has a similar program, to share knowledge on the technology which Nuses said he hopes will enhance safety for both of their departments.
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