LOS ANGELES, CA – While it looks like a UFO, the newest addition to the Corona Police Department is part of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
- Corona police gets three types of drones
- Part of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems
- Providing officers a bird’s-eye view
Sergeant Jason Morris is flying the Phantom 4, the most versatile of the department’s three types of drones. The program launched about a month ago.
The program has been providing officers on the ground with a bird’s-eye view. So far he says the reaction from the department has been consistent.
“Wow, I didn’t know they could do that,” said Morris.
While scanning areas from above can provide critical intel to police operations, drones are life-saving technology at eye-level.
“You have something that can help you out, make your job not necessarily easier, but you’re quicker at what you do, you’re more accurate at what you’re dealing with, then why wouldn’t you want to do it,” Morris said.
With 14 firearm related assaults in Corona in 2018 and 10 in 2017, protecting officers from suspects with weapons is critical. One of the most dangerous situations police officers face is called “chance” contact, which is when they enter a space where they can’t see who or what is on the other side. Deploying drones into these spaces spares a human officer from risking his or her life providing a preview of what is around the corner.
“It provides real-time intelligence, it tells them what the layout of the house is going to be, it tells them, it allows them to call for additional resources,” says Lieutenant Paul Mercado.
Drones can’t replace a helicopter, but they are certainly cheaper. Operating a helicopter, which Corona PD contracts through the City of Riverside, takes time, communication and about $900 an hour.
Drones are sent into the field in the back of a police car and take less than a minute to set-up. Each battery lasts between 25-40 minutes of operation. It costs $1 an hour to fly one.
“It makes total sense. It’s being responsible, fiscally responsible with what we have,” Morris said.
The drones were a $48,000 investment made possible through Corona Police Community Partnerships. So far, they have been used to serve several warrants, but the cost of saving one life from more gun violence is priceless.