Louisiana Sheriff’s Office and Washington Police Department both receive new drones

The Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) in the US state of Louisiana is now equipped with a brand new DJI Mavic 3T drone, at the same time as the Blaine Police Department (BPD) in Washington receives a new drone equipped with video and thermal imaging capabilities.

According to KATC’s Darcie Ortique, EPSO Sheriff Charles Guillory said the new device is intended to help his team with search and rescue missions, particularly in more difficult-to-access areas.

Chief Deputy Scott Fontenot is looking forward to welcoming the new technology with night vision capabilities.

“The infrared lights will help us to locate missing persons during search and rescues as well as [capture] any inmates that may have escaped,” Fontenot told the Louisiana news channel.

“We have a lot of ATV [all-terrain vehicles] and side-by-side theft,” Guillory said. “If we have a tip that somebody is hiding in a wooded area or in a field, a drone would help with that.”

Once training is complete, members of law enforcement at the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office plan to put the drone to use as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, in Washington, the Blaine Police Department purchased a drone equipped with video and thermal imaging capabilities, all thanks to donations made by local businesses and foundations.

According to The Northern Light, the drone, which was purchased in September 2023 for a total of US$16,250, was funded by donations originally made to the department’s discontinued K9 unit.

Blaine police officer Kieth Olson is BPD’s primary drone operator and said the new piece of equipment had already been used to track down fleeing suspects, pinpoint trespassers on railway tracks, and even search for a black bear and two cubs.

The drone will help police search for vulnerable adults and missing children, as well as provide safety assistance during large events.

The ability to have an overhead view without the use of helicopters or assistance from other agencies is an important step forward for officer safety and efficiency, Olson told the community newspaper. The drone can fly in almost any weather conditions, including moderately high winds, and comes with a loudspeaker which enables one-way communication with suspects or people in distress.

Olson pointed out: “Trying to find someone on foot, whether it’s on a mountain side or they’re out in the ocean, is already difficult as is. With the assistance of the drone, we increase our search capabilities to help those already working on the ground.”

The police department has confirmed that it has not received any noise complaints about the drone, and that the machine is often quieter than passing cars and trains.

This comes after news that Tennessee's Shelby County Sheriff's Office considers opportunities for employing drones in patrol functions.