Wheat Ridge, Colorado – A Colorado police force is looking for new ways to use drones to solve crimes.
The Wheat Ridge Police Department said they have been using drones to respond to different 911 calls almost every day since they were introduced to the department in April.
Alex Rose, public information officer for the police department, said they are excited about the capabilities of the drones, which include helping to keep officers safe.
One Colorado police department says it’s just pushing the limits of what drones can do.
“Every day is a new opportunity for our department to see where we can take this technology,” Ross said.
Ross said the department is pushing the limits of what drones can do. He said a team of about 10 officers had been trained on how to use the drones.
When they decide to send a drone to an area, officials can use a GPS tracking system to see where the drone was launched from, as well as an instant picture of where the drone is flying.
Robotic drones are revealing the secrets of nature’s deadliest hurricanes
Sgt. John Bowman, Wheat Ridge police drone course director, said the department’s drones also have Zoom capabilities.
Drone footage from the Wheat Ridge Police Department. (Mailing Police)
“It takes a lot of practice. A lot of patience. A lot of repetition. But these camera systems and these operating systems cover a lot of different areas,” Bowman said.
The police department said one of their drones recently spotted a break-in at the apartment. In June, a maintenance worker called their department and said they saw some intruders inside the apartment. Instead of an officer, they sent a drone.
What is artificial intelligence (AI)?
After obtaining a search warrant, a drone entered the home to investigate. Ross said the drone found a dog and a person sleeping in the closet. The man has been arrested and the investigation is ongoing, police said.
Wheat Ridge police said they have trained some officers on how to use drone technology. (Mailing Police Station)
Wheat Ridge police say their drones also help investigate car crashes and monitor large crowds during the festival.
Police body camera footage reveals new details about Uvalde shooting
Dr. Matthew Guariglia, senior policy analyst at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said some cities have very strict rules about when and how police can use drones, while other cities in the country have none at all.
“This is a big issue because the courts are very divided right now on whether police departments can fly drones over your house or property with or without a search warrant,” Guarilla said.
Wheat Ridge police said they must consult with the district attorney before flying drones, and they are one of at least 20 departments in Colorado using drones.
Crime-fighting drones that beat police to the scene
“This is new technology, so we’re constantly looking at what other departments are doing. Is there any case law involving this jurisdiction and other jurisdictions,” Ross said.
Click here to get the Fox News app
Wheat Ridge is a western suburb of Denver.
Police in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, say their drones help them solve crimes almost every day.
