Officer Larry Boggus from Houston, TX had no idea just how handy his “just in case” idea of bringing his drone to work one day would become. It was during the aftermath of hurricane Harvey when he thought to bring his drone into the station. Knowing it could be a long day of emergency and rescue operations he thought that having his drone there as a tool could help out. In fact it helped out the police force tremendously to have an eye in the sky searching for people trapped on their roofs from flooding. It also helped officers in vehicles navigate through traffic and flood zones so they could quickly get to the people to safety.

From that moment on, Officer Boggus knew that having a drone with him to preform his duties was a must. In the past, to be able to have what is known as an over-watch assistance system in a police situation was not always ideal. It meant having to call in a helicopter team. Using a helicopter is not only far from subtle, but takes time to deploy and can cost upwards of $5 million. For small communities that just isn’t possible. A drone on the other hand is very stealthy, can be launched in a matter of seconds, and can be bought for only a few thousand dollars.

Officer Boggus and his team have now been successfully using drones in many aspects of their daily police work. From assisting in traffic violations, to tracking down fleeing perpetrators. The drones have even been used to aid the fire department. According to Kelly Cubbage, a resident in Boggus’s jurisdiction, when she got a call reporting suspicious activity at her home it was the use of the drones that made all the difference.

A fire had started in her home. The fire department was able to use the drone to pinpoint exactly where to target their efforts. They were able to quickly put out the fire with as minimal damage to the home as possible. For Cubbage, the use of the drone gave her reassurance that her home and those fighting to protect it, would be safe.

What was once just an avid Droner’s hobby has become a major emergency tool. Since hurricane Harvey, Boggus has worked with at least 45 other police departments in the region. From training them on how and when to use drones as well as becoming licensed drone operators, he and his fellow officers are embracing this new technology.

Technology and drones are a great fit for emergency personnel. They help them do their jobs faster and better while still keeping them safe. Officer Boggus is excited to see just where this journey will go. The technology is advancing. Right now they are even looking into a program that will automatically dispatch a drone when a 911 call is placed, saving even more time and lives.