Longmont Police encountered an incident where an individual barricaded themselves inside a local residence, waiting for SWAT officers to bust in. In order to protect SWAT officers, Longmont Police sent a drone in to assess the situation. This simple tool is used more and more by Longmont Public Safety to aid in their work.
Longmont Public Safety has been using drones in law enforcement and fire safety since 2018 when it purchased two thermal drones. This year it purchased four drones with its $30,000 one-time funding. A fifth drone is expected to be purchased soon due to the Public Safety being able to earn credit by returning some previously purchased parts, said Sgt. Garret Hultgren of the Longmont Police Department. In total, the department has ten drones for indoor and outdoor uses.
FAA-certified police officers fly indoor drones in SWAT incidents, to check on medical situations or to respond to intrusion alarms or burglaries. The outdoor drones can be used to find fugitives or missing people, to create 3D models of car crashes, to identify hot spots in fires and much more.
“The uses have evolved over the years as we have found more and more things that they are beneficial for,” Hultgren said, adding that the department always works in compliance with local, state and federal laws.
In May, Longmont Police Officers deployed drones during a domestic violence-related situation near a local retail store. The male suspect left the scene before officers arrived. Using a drone, officers were able to locate the man — who had a warrant for his arrest. After officers located the man, he was taken into custody without incident.
Hultgren said the drones have been instrumental in keeping the public and police officers safe in situations like these. He also said that nationwide, officers are using drones to mark hazards or ambush points during the pursuit of suspects.
“By having a drone overhead, we can be checking for any obstacles or barricades … before the officers get there, so they know that structure has been cleared of a potential suspect that may be armed,” Hultgren said.
Drones have many uses, but the tool has increased officers’ success in their work despite its limitations such as battery life and not being able to fly in certain weather conditions.
“It has helped influence our ability to render more efficient and safer police services and fire services to the community because what would have taken hours, now we can do much quicker with a drone,” Hultgren said.
