At the National Sheriff’s Association’s recent annual conference, deputies and sheriffs from across the United States received a special presentation from university researchersintroduce them to the benefits of the most common form of electric aviation†
“To stand in front of hundreds of law enforcement officers from around the country and showcase K-State Salina UAS expertise was an excellent opportunity,” said Spencer Schrader, K-State Salina UAS flight operations manager. “Leading discussions about safety, the latest technology and information about our campus’s professional development program will lead to life-saving measures that first responders can use in real-world emergencies.”
The presentation that gave them this opportunity focused not only on the latest drone technologies, but also on how law enforcement could best use those clean technologies on a daily basis.
This was part of the conference’s “NSA Talks” series, and the team at K-State Salina decided to use their speaking opportunity to deliver a talk titled “Drones As A First Responder.” The team also gave hands-on demonstrations, explained to sheriffs and deputies how to obtain the required FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot license, and even helped complete the “bucket challenge”, where pilots attempt to maneuver drones to see what comes in several buckets (a tougher challenger than you might think).
“K-State Salina continues to be at the forefront of training in the public safety industry,” said Courtney Hoffman, deputy director of K-State Salina Professional Education and Outreach. “Our year-round programs leverage the expertise of our Applied Aviation Research Center staff to provide training and continuing education to law enforcement and public safety professionals. This is critical to provide security and life-saving techniques to law enforcement officers when using drones.”
More importantly, they were able to tell professionals about the university’s education program that prepares officers to use drones. Hopefully, with the little bit of information and fun they had, some sheriff’s offices will send deputies to gain more experience and put more clean technology on the streets.
If you’re a public safety professional, be sure to check out the team’s upcoming Public Safety UAS workshop in October. More details can be found here†
Why this is important
If you’ve tampered with drones, or seen kids messing with them, it might seem like anyone can just buy one at Best Buy and get started. In some ways that’s true, but in other ways it couldn’t be less true. While modern sensors and smartphone/tablet technology make using drones easier than ever, that doesn’t mean you’re ready to get serious about it.
First, there’s a regulatory problem with taking a drone out of a box from a retailer and sending it into the air: the need for licensing. Recreational pilots can take a short online test to show they know the basics, but to work with them, you must pass the Part 107 test and complete your continuing education. Whether you’re an agent or a photographer, you need that.
And that’s just federal policy. Some states have additional laws and policies that a pilot should be aware of, and some have law enforcement-specific policies that an officer must teach about or risk messing up investigations.
The other problem is that you’d better be ready to take on the challenges of a particular field compared to the limitations of the technology. If you think you can hover a drone over a scene for hours on end, you’re in for a surprise.
This and many other things should become part of regular training and not something for an individual law enforcement officer to figure out (and possibly make mistake) on their own. It is good to see that researchers and educational institutions are entering and helping this space.
Featured image: A DJI Mavic Mini 3 Pro, DJI press photo.
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