By John Pacenti
The Ocean Ridge Police Department plans to add a drone to its public safety repertoire — a technological upgrade that comes courtesy of a donation from the Starbright Civic Collective, a nonprofit formed by residents.
Police Chief Scott McClure announced the donation at the Jan. 6 Town Commission meeting, detailing that the package includes three live cameras as well as the thermal-equipped drone. It is manufactured by Skydio, a subsidiary of Axon Enterprise, which also provides the department’s body cameras.
The total value of the donation amounts to $44,129, covering not only the equipment but also training. McClure emphasized the drone’s versatility, stating it will be used for searching for missing persons, conducting pre- and post-hurricane aerial mapping, and assisting in locating lost swimmers.
“This donation is for the betterment of the town safety and is needed to strengthen today’s crime fighting,” McClure said. “As criminals come up with new ways to commit crimes, the Police Department must combat these methods.”
McClure said he plans to have at least one trained operator on each shift to ensure the drone can be deployed quickly when needed.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize the department’s capabilities. The live cameras, which are compatible with the town’s existing license plate reader system, will provide additional surveillance coverage in key areas.
The donation was spearheaded by Starbright Vice President Carol Besler and Chairperson Janet Schijns, demonstrating strong community support for law enforcement in Ocean Ridge, the chief said.
As the Police Department prepares to integrate this new technology, residents can expect to see improved response times and enhanced safety measures throughout town, McClure said. The drone’s thermal imaging capabilities will be particularly useful in low-visibility situations and search operations.
The Police Department’s adoption of drone technology reflects a growing trend among law enforcement agencies nationwide to leverage advanced tools in their public safety efforts.
The American Civil Liberties Union has taken issue with domestic drones, saying they could be armed and invade citizens’ privacy.
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