CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC) – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department is now using drone technology as their aviation unit to help keep you safe.
Sheriff Jeff Shaver says keeping the law in a rural county requires more than patrol vehicles.
“We’re always looking for the next cutting-edge technology that will help us to do a better job for the citizens,” said Shaver.
That current cutting-edge technology involves operating an unmanned aerial system or drone, a tool for public safety and emergency response.
“In the past we really didn’t have nothing except for like, maybe Etowah County could use their helicopter or the Alabama State Troopers, but in order for us to get the one from troopers, it had to be a pretty high priority call,” said Sgt. Thomas Key, drone operator.
These drones will allow for quick response in critical situations, rescue missions, locating missing children, while providing aerial support for the safety and security of Cherokee County.
“The equipment was department funded because of the need for the rural territory we cover here to do a better job of locating lost people and just doing our job better for the citizens,” said Shaver.
With four sophisticated drones at their disposal, that uses thermal imaging.
Drone operator Sgt. Key says there’s nothing he won’t be able to see.
“We use that one to provide overwatch a lot and we’ll use it for apprehension of anybody that runs. Flying indoors to look inside houses if we got barricaded subjects or anything like that,” said Sgt. Key.
Sgt. Key says the department has two drone operators on-call 24/7 because they never know when they’ll be needed.
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