Allen County, in northeastern Indiana, is the largest county by land in the state, covering 660.02 square miles. With a population of 385,410, it is also the third most populous county in Indiana. Ensuring the safety of the county falls to the Allen County Sheriff’s Department. After serving the department for 34 years, lifelong Allen County resident Troy Hershberger was sworn in as Sheriff on December 29, 2022. Sheriff Hershberger, along with 141 sworn police officers and 209 support staff members, is committed to serving Allen County to the best of their ability.

To do this, the department, like many other emergency departments across the United States, has implemented drone technology. In 2015, the Chula Vista Police Department in California, in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration, began studying the possibilities of introducing drones as everyday police tools. By 2017, 121 sheriff’s offices and 96 police departments had registered drone programs.

Today, there are thousands of sheriff’s offices, police departments, fire departments, and other emergency and first responder units that have adopted drone technology as part of their daily arsenal to protect and serve their communities. Drones are used to monitor traffic and crowds, gather evidence at the scene of accidents or crimes, provide situational awareness before officers engage in action, assist in search and rescue missions, and much more. Every day, emergency workers are finding new ways that drones can assist them.

Some departments rely solely on American-made drone equipment, like BRINC’s line of Responder drones. However, a large number of departments use DJI drones, which are among the most reliable and affordable options on the market for emergency responders. The Allen County Sheriff’s Department has several DJI drones at their disposal. They are easy to use and transport, and they come equipped with all the features that a police officer would need. While drones have proven to be beneficial, when something breaks down on them, emergency responders are often left stranded.

This was a situation that Allen County Deputy Sheriff Kyle Gator faced when a part on one of the department’s DJI drones broke. He was confronted with the possibility of having to wait at least a month for the drone to be repaired, along with a bill that would run upwards of $200. However, Officer Gator knew just the right person to get the drone back in the air at a fraction of the time and cost: Mr. Gary Platt. As a veteran teacher with 25 years of experience, Mr. Platt has developed a reputation for guiding his students to think outside the box when it comes to problem-solving.

Currently, Mr. Platt teaches Introduction to Engineering and Design at an Allen County high school. Part of his instruction involves teaching his students how to come up with solutions and ideas. With the help of technology, Mr. Platt is able to take his students’ concepts beyond mere theory and into reality. The school is fortunate to own a 3D printer that Mr. Platt utilizes as part of his curriculum. When Officer Gator approached him with the issue of the broken part for the drone, Mr. Platt warmed up the 3D printer.

After downloading the schematics for the part in question, Mr. Platt was able to rebuild it in just one day. The cost of the materials needed to construct the part was around $1. On Thursday, October 24, 2024, the Allen County Sheriff’s Department took the time to officially thank and honor Mr. Platt for his service to the department, his students, and the community as a whole. “I am honored,’ Mr. Platt said. “I’m, you know, I’m proud of the fact that we were able to come up with a solution to that, and, you know, just a little bit overwhelmed.” After fixing the first drone, Mr. Platt happily used the 3D printer to repair two other drones operated by the department. At the ceremony held in his honor, he expressed his eagerness to continue the relationship with the Sheriff’s Department as the “drone part fix-it guy.” He even hopes to help other departments in the area as well.

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