JC Post

JUNCTION CITY – Law enforcement authorities in Geary County are set to become one of the first in the state to use drone technology.

Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf said his department has acquired a civilian model drone, and another more advanced model drone is being acquired from a company in Colorado.

“What we’re planning on doing with these drones are using these mostly right now for search and rescue.”

As an example Wolf referred to an incident about two years ago involving a lengthy search for an elderly resident in the county that suffered from dementia, had wondered away from his home and become lost.

“We were calling in KHP to bring out a helicopter to fly the area for us, but due to the weather they couldn’t fly that day.”

Wolf said authorities could put the drones, which are about the size of large model airplanes, up in the air quickly to scan an area. It would involve the use of less people.

“This would be a very valuable tool to use in the future for situations like that,” he said.

Wolf noted the drones could also be used in search and rescue operations in the Milford Lake area.

“Seems like every year we have somebody that gets stranded in a boat, or disabled, or walked way and got lost along the shoreline somewhere. When they call 911 they don’t know where they are.” Use of the drones could enable locate and rescue much quicker and be less labor intensive.

The drones have four propellers and are operated by remote control on the ground. Two deputies have received training on how to use and control them.

Wolf confirmed the cost of the two drones combined totals approximately $28,000. They were purchased with drug forfeiture funds. No taxpayer money was used.

“Right now as I understand it, we are the first law enforcement agency in the state of Kansas that does have drones,” said Wolf.