The city of Victorville is currently developing a new Drone First Responder Program. Working closely with the police department, the city plans to launch the exciting new technology within the next 12 months.
Deputy City Manager Tony Camargo explained the benefits of the program on the newest “What’s the Tea VV” podcast with Victorville Public Information Officer Sue Jones.
According to Camargo, the drones respond and arrive on scene quicker than actual police units.
This allows them to take and send aerial images of the scene to the police station, similar to ShotSpotter. Officers can then assess the imagery while en route, adding an element of enhanced intelligence going into the situation.
The drones will also be able to vet out non-priority calls at the station, Camargo said, to allow deputies to respond to higher-priority calls during emergency situations.
Police Capt. Jerry Davenport was also a guest on the podcast and says he is excited about the new drone program. He told Jones that a compelling feature of the new, responsive technology is the ability to capture information on fleeing suspects.
The Victorville Fire Department may also utilize this drone technology for fires, Camargo said.
The drones have thermal sensors, so they’re able to detect heat and hot spots on a live feed in cases of overwhelming smoke.
The information extracted from both the drones and the ShotSpotter will feed back to the police station’s proposed Real Time Crime Center, which will be a component of Victorville’s new police station.
McKenna is a reporter for the Daily Press. She can be reached at mmobley@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Victorville to launch Drone First Responder Program aimed at catching fleeing suspects
Reporting by McKenna Mobley, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
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