Recently, on a hot and muggy summer morning, we traveled to an undisclosed location deep within the woods of Clay County to learn more about a team formed last year within the Clay County Sheriff’s Department. As we pull into the clearing off a dirt road, we are greeted by members of the Sheriff’s Drone Team as they conduct a training exercise with both experienced and rookie pilots. Though only a year old, the Drone Team has deployed multiple times for a variety of operations, and it has become an integral part of the ever-growing resources of CCSO. On this day, we interview the team leader, Sgt. Christopher Glenn. We met previously with Sgt. Glenn during the profile story on the Clay County Dive Team, and he informs us that he has also been tasked with leading the CCSO Swift Water Rescue Team. When asked if he feels stretched by the multiple assignments, Sgt. Glenn smiles and responds, “I often tell the Sheriff that I wear so many hats that I’m thinking about getting a sombrero. That way I can put my different titles around the hat and spin it to whatever I’m working on in that moment.”
We promise to tag back up with Glenn to do a Swift Water Rescue Team story, but, today, we want to learn what we can about the Drone Team. One of the first things we want to know is how the drones compare to the planes and helicopters that larger agencies currently utilize. “Well, our Apache attack helicopter is on backorder, so at this time the drone is the best we can do—and it is a great tool for our mission,” laughs Sgt. Glenn. “Specifically,” he continues, “These drones are tasked with everything from investigating and assisting in criminal investigations to the search and rescue of missing and endangered persons. We have drones from two different manufacturers that have different configurations for a variety of needs. For example, if there’s a child believed to be lost in the woods, we can use thermal imaging to help locate him, while if there is a boater in distress we can deploy a drone with a high resolution camera to assess the emergency while our Marine Team races to the scene.”
Of course, there is much discussion these days regarding drones, aviation safety, and privacy. When asked about these areas of concern, Sgt. Glenn explains that the Drone Team and drone equipment fall under the same Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations that any other drone would be subject to. In fact, some of the drones used by CCSO are functioning under a higher scrutiny imposed by the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the BlueUAS initiative for Unmanned Aerial Systems. “Our prospective pilots are not allowed to even touch the controls of the drones until they go through an intensive class regarding both Federal and State laws, namely Florida Statutes 330.41 and 934.50, which dictate how a drone may be used in Florida and how a drone may be used by law enforcement, respectively. Once our pilots are proficient with these laws, then they are taken through a rigorous training to understand and master the flight control of these units. Only after they demonstrate their skills and pass a peer review will they be allowed to deploy a drone on their own.” Glenn goes on to explain that the Drone Team, which currently consists of thirteen pilots, is a 100% volunteer group. “None of these pilots receive additional pay, and all of them must still perform their current responsibilities within the Sheriff’s Office.”
As we watched a new pilot practice control maneuvers with the drone, we wanted to know what would cause someone to take on this extra responsibility without additional compensation. During a break, we pulled the new pilot, Deputy Antonini, to the side and asked him about the drones. “It’s just such a good tool to locate missing people and dangerous people, and I really enjoy getting to fly this unit.” Deputy Smith, an inaugural member of the team and a trainer also shared, “I love the technology and how quickly it is advancing. We recently found a missing child and that felt really good. The drones are a great enhancement for law enforcement and first responders.”
As the team continues to train, a rainstorm begins to increase in strength, causing them to put away the equipment and relocate to an indoor facility. When asked about how fragile the drones are, Sgt. Glenn explained, “These are some fairly rugged units, but we do everything we can to take good care of them. These drones cost between $12,000 and $17,000, so we obviously want to protect them from the elements as much as possible. We also keep detailed logs of every use, and we utilize a strict maintenance program to ensure that they are always functioning as they should.” Before we end our time with the CCSO Drone Team, we ask Sgt. Glenn where he sees the future of drones heading in a law enforcement setting. “We already use a drone when possible to carry out high risk operations to prevent our deputies from being placed in harm’s way, but I can envision a multitude of future uses. You’ve heard of major retailers using drones for package delivery, but we may soon be able to have a payload attachment that allows a drone to take a life jacket to someone who is struggling to swim or drop a GPS tag and water to someone who has been lost in the woods—the possibilities are endless. We’re already looking at other drone companies with products that fly further, have a better battery life, and cost less than our current models. This team is just getting started, and we’re so glad to be able to help the citizens of Clay County as we grow.”