About an hour northwest of Austin, Texas, lies the small town of Burnet. The town covers a little over 10 square miles and has a population of roughly 6,436 people. Like many small towns across the United States, Burnet relies on a small yet dedicated police department to serve and protect the community. The Burnet Police Department (BPD), led by Chief Brian Lee, is made up of 21 sworn officers. The department is responsible for serving the entire community, including the “City’s Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (one mile outside the current City Limit),” according to their website.

The website goes on to state that the BPD’s vision “is to develop a problem-solving and customer-oriented environment for the employee to effectively respond to the needs of the community. Members of the Burnet Police Department will be leaders in initiating and maintaining positive relationships with neighborhoods, schools, businesses, and other members of the community. These community bonds will form a medium where public safety concerns can be anticipated and addressed.” However, like many small police departments with a limited staff, having enough officers to provide the best services can be difficult. This is why more and more small police departments, like the BPD, have begun to rely on the latest in law enforcement technology to serve as force multipliers.

Recently, the BPD announced that they had acquired a cache of new technology, including license plate scanners, narcotic testers, and drones. Each of these new devices will provide officers with the tactical support they need to serve the community while keeping themselves safe. The license plate scanners are devices installed in all patrol cars that automatically scan any license plate an officer passes. If the plate is flagged for a warrant or as an Amber Alert, for example, the officer will immediately be notified to proceed as required per the situation. It is a device that will save officers time and better allow them to keep citizens safe.

As for the narcotic tester, the BPD will be using TruNarc handheld laser detectors that cost approximately $20,000 per unit. While it is a hefty price, many police departments have begun using them to safely handle confiscated drugs. TruNarc uses Raman spectroscopy to analyze and identify more than 530 illicit narcotics. “The laser goes in there and detects two different molecules, it will break them down and it will let us know if there is fentanyl in this and then if there is methamphetamine,” explained BPD Sergeant Michael Daugherty.

The department also received funding to purchase four drones. The funding includes training for four officers to become licensed drone pilots. The two larger drones are weather-resistant and can be used for a number of tasks such as search and rescue or the pursuit of a suspect. The two smaller drones are ideal for evidence collection or crowd surveillance. However, the drones can and will be used interchangeably when needed. “We can put out broadcasts as well as a spotlight for nighttime,” Officer Joshua Day, one of the first officers trained to pilot the drones, said. “The zoom capabilities with this are about 200 times magnification,” he went on to say, showing just how beneficial the drone could be.

These are just a few of the ways in which drones can be used to help police departments. As the BPD familiarizes themselves with their new drones, they will soon learn of more exciting ways in which they can be used to make daily police tasks safer and more efficient. The BPD also said that they would gladly share their drone technology with surrounding departments when needed. “In an agency our size, you don’t see typically having the TruNarc, having the drone systems,” Chief Lee said, emphasizing how important these technological advancements will be for the department.

As technology continues to evolve, the BPD’s adoption of advanced tools like license plate scanners, narcotic testers, and drones demonstrates its commitment to enhancing public safety and efficiency. By integrating these innovations into their operations, BPD not only improves their ability to serve and protect the community but also sets a positive example for other small departments facing similar challenges. With these new technologies, Burnet’s officers are better equipped to tackle crime, respond quickly to emergencies, and build stronger relationships with the people they serve, ensuring a safer and more connected community for all.

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