Propelling: Meet Your Newest Member of Law Enforcement–Drones

“There’s never a lack of interest in what can be done with a drone,” said Rick Rayhel, sales manager for Microdrones. Here on Propelling, a Microdrones podcast, we’ve experienced the same sentiment, exploring UAVs used for all sorts of innovative purposes. Today, we highlighted their role in crime and crash scene analysis.

Though new to this market, drones are making waves in their new role in law enforcement, saving communities thousands of dollars and collecting evidence with startling accuracy. To expand upon the use of drones in this capacity is a full panel of professionals: Rick Rayhel, sales manager at Microdrones, along with Steve McKinzie, owner of CSI Mapping, Curt Haberlach, reconstructionist for McKinzie & Associates, and Kris Keberlein, accident reconstructionist for McKinzie & Associates.

Anyone who has ever caught an episode of CSI will recognize the roll of yellow measuring tape often used by agents. But this archaic form of mapping is on its way out as UAV’s arrive on the scene, taking measurements more accurately, faster, and more efficiently. McKinzie, a 20 year veteran of forensic mapping, explained how holes in the industry brought about a technological revolution.

A demand for accurate, shareable data was the impetus behind bringing drones onto a crime scene. With drone data determining courtroom verdicts, clean and indisputable evidence was a necessity.

Drone’s capabilities have positive, far-reaching trickle-down effects. They are saving communities thousands of dollars. Haberlach explained how by unpacking the process of surveying a crash.

Step 1: isolate the scene. This involves shutting down traffic and ramping up manpower, drawing into overtime for technicians onsite. Drones speed up the collection process and get a roadway quickly back to normal. The economic significance of this saved time is enormous.

“We’re only going to see this technology adopted more often by agencies as we see the benefits come to fruition.” Rayhel said, asserting the dominance of drones in this specialized role.

Give this panel discussion a listen to hear more on the use cases, impact and future of drones in law enforcement.

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