CHERRY HILL. N.J. — The Cherry Hill Police Department will begin using drones to help with searching for missing persons, locating fleeing suspects, and for aiding in emergency and disaster response.
The department recently purchased two small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS), commonly known as drones, for their new Unmanned Aircraft Unit.
“The sUAS is equipped with video camera equipment, which can assist in a search and rescue mission or to provide aerial footage of a motor vehicle accident or crime scene,” the department said in a statement. “This additional resource will have an impact on the efficiency of operations and safety of our police and residents.”
The department has instituted a comprehensive policy to govern the use of the drones. They have also now have twenty fully trained and certified pilots. The department paid for the sUAS and associated training with confiscated funds.
According to NJ Pen, the department used about $18,000 in confiscated funds: approximately $10,000 for operations training from DARTdrones of Jessup, Pennsylvania, and the other $8,000 for two units themselves.
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