A 911 call comes in about two men stealing from cars in a local parking lot. Suffolk police dispatch one of their new drones, which arrives in under a minute and streams video back to dispatch. Officers are advised of the suspects’ location, leading to arrests.
This was part of a demonstration at Police Headquarters in Yaphank unveiling Suffolk’s new $600,000 drone fleet, which will give police eyes in the sky with a slew of new capabilities.
County Executive Ed Romaine said the program reflects his priority to provide law enforcement with the latest tools. “We will continue to invest in technology to ensure residents remain safe and the police have what they need to protect them,” Romaine said, noting the funds came from a state grant.
The drones can be dispatched automatically and flown remotely from the department’s Crime Analysis Center. They are equipped with thermal cameras for searches, a high-definition zoom lens capable of reading license plates, and street maps to display addresses clearly. Each unit can automatically return to its docking station if communications are lost, avoid obstacles, and deploy a parachute if needed. Much of the initial investment was for infrastructure with new units costing about $30,000 each.
Suffolk Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina called the program an innovative step forward, saying, “These drones provide real-time awareness, allowing detectives operating remotely to guide ground units with accurate, up-to-date information.”
The program has begun test flights at the Second Precinct in Huntington, with expansion planned for the First Precinct in West Babylon and the Third Precinct in Bay Shore. Romaine said the South Shore’s 7th Precinct will receive drones next year and, because of its size, will host the county’s largest fleet. He praised the drones’ ability to locate lost people, especially children, using their infrared heat-detection system.