“... I would really say that the possibilities are limitless,” Chief Tray Federici told The News Tribune.
The department began getting parts for their drone in early June, he said. The drone itself cost $10,910, with some accompanying software that had a minimal cost.
Discussions about getting a police department drone began under former Chief Kelly Busey, and involved the mayor, city council and city administrator as they worked on a budget and concept for the program over a period of about two years, said Federici.
Other police departments in Pierce County with drones include the Lakewood Police Department, the Orting Police Department and the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.
The Gig Harbor Police Department’s drone is equipped with thermal imaging technology that can detect temperature differences, Federici explained. That allows police to locate missing people or suspects, or a hot car engine, for example.
The police department has a patrol vehicle specially equipped to carry the drone, with a rapid charging station and a large computer monitor that connects to the drone. Assisting officers can watch the screen and operate the radio while the drone operator focuses on flying the device, he said.
If the police department is using the drone’s regular camera, not thermal imaging technology, the drone can stay in the air for upwards of 45 minutes, depending on the weather. It can run for about 30 to 35 minutes using the thermal technology, according to Federici.
He encouraged a broad view of the drone’s potential uses beyond enforcement, from search and rescue operations to monitoring large crowds and parades for unusual traffic patterns or bottlenecks. For example, the drone could be deployed during large events shutting down Harborview Drive to signal where officers should be dispatched to help with traffic control, he said.
He emphasized that officers are still “boots on the ground” when responding to missing persons or other victims in distress. The drone is an additional tool, he said.
“How do we normally search for missing people, right? Manpower, boots on the ground, searching small areas at a time, and expanding the search into larger areas at a time,” he said. “And sometimes that’s what it takes, and we’re always willing to do that, but it’s not the most efficient way to search.”
The police department also plans to incorporate the drone into their next annual Marine Services Unit training, he continued. They’ll simulate an overturned kayaker in the water and send out the drone operators to locate the person in need, then relay that information to the Marine Services Unit to respond.
While the police department logs each drone flight, officers do not conduct any surveillance without a search warrant signed by a judge, supported by probable cause, Federici said.
The police department didn't hire any new officers specifically to operate the drone. Two existing police officers are certified with Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 licenses to operate the drone for law enforcement purposes, he said.
He wrote in an email Friday that “the drone has assisted in two cases, aiding in an eventual apprehension, and has already been used in partnership with Public Works for a facility and city asset inspection.”
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