The battery pack lasts about 30 minutes but the department has several packs and can recharge them at the scene of the incident. Ethan Yazinski and Deputy Heather Shea-Clark earned their certification earlier this year to fly the drones and Wilson said he would like to certify three more.ĭuring the demonstration at the county complex in Unity last week, Wilson held the drone in one hand and unfolded the four-propeller attachment as he pointed out some of the features. COVID would delay the project but Wilson eventually raised about $38,000 from local businesses, charitable organizations and citizens and has spent $29,000 for two drones and related equipment. Sullivan County Sheriff John Simonds fully supported the idea but with no history of use in the department, he could not justify adding the expense to the county budget until they proved themselves. He noted that while several communities in New Hampshire use them there were not many on the western side of the state. In 2019 Wilson’s interest in drones was piqued after reading a lot about them in law enforcement publications. “The hope is in those scenarios we can speed things up enough to save lives,” Wilson said. A drone may not eliminate the use of “line searches” (20 or 30 people) but it will aid in that, Wilson said. The drone can not only search faster but also in areas that are difficult to access, such as swamps and steep hillsides. ![]() It is not only what you find that makes a mission a success but sometimes it is what you didn’t find.” You are eliminating areas faster than people walking can do, so this speeds things up. “But what we did do, we were able to say he is not in the pond or swamp. ![]() “A lot of people would say that was not a success because you did not find him,” Wilson said. Wilson said they were assigned to search a swampy area, which did not turn up the individual who eventually came home on his own. One of the first calls for service was for a person with Alzheimer’s disease in Grantham who had walked away from his home. “The technology is moving so fast and no one in our area has it but everyone should have it.”ĭrones provide faster, safer and easier access to areas that people take longer to reach and at a greater risk. “This is budding technology that is making waves across the country,” Jeremy Wilson, the department’s chief deputy, said while demonstrating and explaining the drones’ capabilities. The department purchased the drones last December and put them into use once pilot certification from the Federal Aviation Administration was obtained for three department members. NEWPORT - About once a week since May, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department has assisted area emergency responders using drones for search and rescue operations and other circumstances. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. (Valley News - Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. Wilson raised $22,000 for the two drones and supporting equipment, based out of the sheriff's offices in Claremont and Newport. The drone has a flight time of 25 minutes and can run up to 45 MPH. Send requests to valley news - Geoff HansenĬhief Deputy Jeremy Wilson of the Sullivan County Sheriff's office installs a fresh drone battery before launching a demonstation flight at the county complex in Unity, N.H., on Sept. Unique to the county, three officers in the department are FAA-certified drone pilots. Wilson raised $22,000 to purchase them and other equipment to help with police searches and on fire scenes. 8, 2022, in Unity, N.H., Chief Deputy Jeremy Wilson of the Sullivan County Sheriff's office talks about one of the two drones he purchased for the department to use in emergency situations. ![]() Send requests to Valley News - Geoff Hansen ![]() The department's drone pilots are currently responding to one emergency situation per week. Wilson started fundraising for the drones and supporting equipment in 2019, and after delays due the pandemic, the project went online in May 2022. After a short demonstration flight, Chief Deputy Jeremy Wilson of the Sullivan County Sheriff's office lands a drone at the county complex in Unity, N.H., on Sept.
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