ELLIS COUNTY – With people from around the country looking up in the sky these days to the sight of mysterious drones that the government does not feel inclined to explain, one drone Ellis County residents might be seeing in the future is a first responder drone belonging to the DeSoto Police Department.
DeSoto PD recently partnered with Paladin Drones to enhance its small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) operations that already has a drone stable of around six drones.
The particular drone, the Paladin DJI 30T, is specifically qualified for the First Responder (DFR) program.
“We will be assisting other agencies, but on a case by case basis,” said DeSoto Police Chief Joe Costa. “We will not be available for everyday low priority calls, but yes, we will be assisting high priority or high profile cases.”
The DJI 30T is a highly capable sUAS, designed to operate in adverse weather conditions such as rain and strong winds.
“Its thermal imaging capability allows for a range of applications, such as locating missing persons, tracking fleeing suspects, and assisting the Fire Department during structure fires,” according to R. Heath Penwarden, Lieutenant, Support Service Commander, DeSoto Police Department.
“This technology elevates situational awareness and operational efficiency for public safety.”
The department’s new DJI 30T shares some capabilities with the existing sUAS in DeSoto’s drone fleet but can respond to emergencies directly from its docking station, significantly reducing response time. Unlike previous models that required manual deployment, Penwarden said this sUAS can be remotely activated and piloted to a scene, offering quicker situational awareness and operational efficiency.
DeSoto PD has been a leader in adopting advanced law enforcement technologies in the area for a while and is now the first agency in the area to implement the Drone First Responder program.
The department’s drone program has been operational since 2017.
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