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    • Pocono Township Police Department drone program approved by supervisors
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    Pocono Township Police Department drone program approved by supervisors

    Umito Posted on

    The Pocono Township Police Department (PTPD) will be implementing a drone program.

    On Oct. 7, the Pocono Township Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the program that will integrate drones into its police department’s arsenal.

    Police Chief James Wagner said by email that he presented the idea to department leadership five years ago as a detective sergeant, and it developed when he became chief in March. “I knew how valuable a program like this could be to the department and the community,” Wagner emailed. “I also knew the time required to research and manage such a program, which I did not have as a newly appointed chief,” said Det. Sgt. (Earl) Ackerman volunteered to run the program.

    The program is funded in part by various grants and donations. Some of the contributions include $20,000 through the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau Tourism Impact Grant, two DJI Avata 2 drones from Sanofi Pasteur worth about $5,000, $2,5000 from the Northeast PA Police Association Inc., $5,000 from Township Commissioner Brian Winot and $5,000 from Township residents Vincent and Charlie Trapasso.

    According to Ackerman, the department purchased the DJI Matrice 30 drone equipped with a thermal camera, charging bank, case, spare propellers, SD cards, searchlight and system broadcasting, as well as a landing strip for a little over $14,000 thanks to donations. The drone also has a 200x hybrid zoom.

    “We will continually re-evaluate our drone program, the applicable uses of each drone model and how our department could benefit from each as our program evolves over the coming years, with the possibility and hope of expand,” Ackerman emailed.

    Other costs listed include $1,895 per pilot for practice Master your drone training and $175 per pilot for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) required Part 107 pilot certification for non-recreational purposes, with renewal testing every two years costing nothing additional.

    Wagner did not give details on the annual cost of the program, but said via email that it would depend on several factors, including maintenance, battery replacement, damage and repairs.

    “It will still take some time,” Wagner responded by email when asked when the program would go into effect. He added that they were selecting officers to pilot the drones.

    The department has previously used drones as part of mutual aid agreements with other agencies. On October 19, 2021, a drone was used to provide real-time information about a vehicle pursuit in a dead end as well as the presence and use of a firearm between subjects in the vehicle. On August 28, 2023, a drone was used to enter a barricaded residence in Pocono Haven Estates to determine that a suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. In both cases, the PTPD was assisted by the Pennsylvania State Police and its certified pilots.

    The ministry also listed in the PowerPoint presentation a few cases where drones could have been used. For example, PTPD argued that a drone could have mapped the crime scene of a shooting homicide that occurred on February 23, 2021 to improve prosecutions and courtroom testimony. Additionally, on July 4, PTPD was pursuing three dirt bikes in Tannersville but was unable to apprehend them due to limited manpower. The department said a drone could have both monitored and contained the suspects.

    Wagner said the department wants the drone and a certified officer to be available 24/7 for rapid deployment when needed, and it would require seven officers to be trained for FAA certification to fly unmanned aircraft systems.

    “The entire department is excited about the program,” Wagner emailed. “We have 12 officers who have volunteered to become pilots.”

    Max Augugliaro is the public safety and government oversight reporter at the Pocono Record. Contact him at [email protected].

    Umito
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