TUSCUMBIA – The Colbert County Sheriff’s Department has a new drone for search and rescue efforts and law enforcement, thanks to the Colbert County Development Commission.
Sen. Larry Stutts and Rep. Ernie Yarbrough awarded the Sheriff’s Department grant funding to purchase the new drone along with protective body armor in the amount of $18,000.
Sheriff Balentine said that the drone has a thermal camera and will support search and rescue efforts by locating individuals faster and safely by detecting their heat signature in complete darkness.
The drone will also detect potential obstacles and hazards that may present injuries to the search team. Additionally, it will support law enforcement operations in high-crime areas and can be utilized by the Drug Task Force for drug interdiction operations. A pilot can deploy a drone to conduct reconnaissance of an area for the planning phase of a tactical operation.
The drone will also be used in emergency management operations. Sheriff Balentine said it can be used to capture aerial photographs of an affected area after a tornado. The photographs can be used to create a 3-D map that can be used for planning and search operations. In the event of a chemical-related incident, a drone could be deployed to assess the damage. Small monitoring equipment could be attached to the drone to prevent further human contact within the area.
Media Release/Lorie Johnson/
