Eyes in the sky: EPD aiming high with drone technology | News

ENID, Okla. — It’s not a hen, and it’s not a aircraft, both.

Native residents seeking to the skies could catch glimpses of drones being utilized by Enid Police Division.

Early Wednesday morning, Capt. Gary Fuxa, Sgts. James McFadden and Tyler Evans and Officer David Sneed spent a number of hours coaching with their private drones and the departmental drone.

Drones are more and more being utilized by regulation enforcement companies throughout the nation, and Fuxa stated the units are instruments that enable police to do a greater job at serving the group.

“The drones are actually a really useful asset to our group,” Fuxa stated. “General, I believe they’re going to make us all rather a lot safer.”

The 4, together with Chief Bryan Skaggs, are all licensed drone pilots by way of Federal Aviation Administration and must observe sure guidelines and laws to fly their units for EPD.

Fuxa stated officers’ private drones have been used to help EPD for a few years now, however the departmental drone was acquired in late July.

EPD’s drone price $13,000 in complete — funded majorly by way of non-public donations — and has a “strong platform” with options akin to autonomous flight, thermal imaging and a high-power zoom, Fuxa stated.

These options can all assist EPD with a wide range of issues, he stated, akin to finding lacking folks and suspects, mapping crime scenes and site visitors accidents and giving officers a hen’s eye have a look at scenes earlier than they go in from the bottom.

“Trying on the officer-safety issue — if we will get an aerial view and get eyes on the scenario to inform us what’s occurring earlier than … our officers can take precautions as a substitute of speeding proper in,” Fuxa stated.