August 3, 2017 - The Fort Wayne Police Department has purchased two “Typhoon H-Pro with Real Sense Drones” that will be put into service allowing the on-board technology to assist the department with several different applications.
Four officers will go through a nine-day training course that will certify them through the FAA as “Remote Pilot-In-Command” officers. The officers assigned to the Air Support Unit (ASU), will be on-call 24-hours a day, 7-days a week and capable of responding to any situation that meets the criteria for them to launch. Officers will utilize the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) for law enforcement missions and under the express authority of a search warrant except for the following circumstances:
Exigent circumstances (Active Shooter, Barricade, Missing)
The substantial likelihood of a terrorist attack
Natural disaster or any other disaster response
Geographical, environmental or other survey purposes unrelated to criminal justice purposes
Aerial photographs or video images of a motor vehicle accident site on a public street or public highway
ASU officers will work as a team of at least two with one officer being the Visual Observer whose job it will be to assist with pre-flight, launch and landing procedures, as well as maintain situational awareness and communications with other on scene law enforcement personnel. The other team member, the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC), will be piloting the UAS.
The department will expand the UAS in the future to include nighttime mission capabilities.