The Dallas Police Department has announced a new drone unit that will be part of the department’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Unit supporting patrol divisions and other investigative teams.
According to FOX 4 News, the unmanned aircraft systems unit will be operated by specially trained officers who have received the appropriate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) training. The unit will assist in cases involving disaster response, fugitive searches, missing persons, and crime scene photography.
The new drone unit is part of the Dallas Police Department’s new Unmanned Aircraft Systems Unit to help fight and solve crimes. Dallas Police Sgt. Ross Stinson shared that the unit will consist of a five-person team that will use the drones during search-and-rescue missions, de-escalation tactics, and building searches. The new drone unit will follow all Federal Aviation Administration guidelines and not use the unmanned aircraft systems for mass surveillance.
According to The Dallas Morning News, the Dallas Police Department began researching and planning for the addition to the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Unit in 2015.
The Dallas Police Department will use various kinds of drones, including ones that have thermal imaging capabilities.
