In 2012, Bard College in New York founded the Center for the Study of the Drone. The goal of the center was to examine the many ways in which drones were being utilized by military and civilian sectors. In 2020, the center did a study on how many public safety agencies in the United States were deploying drones in some capacity. The report showed that public agency drone use had risen to more than 1,578 agencies using drones. The majority of these agencies were law enforcement followed by fire and rescue departments. Another interesting trend the report showed was that although public agencies were using drones manufactured by 39 different companies, the majority of these drones were made by Chinese drone giant DJI.

What is irrefutable is that public safety agencies, like police and sheriff departments, are recognizing the benefit of drone technology. The Cass County, North Dakota Sheriff’s Department (CCSD) has gone as far as saying drones have become indispensable tools. As the most populous county in North Dakota, with its headquarters in Fargo, CCSD serves 183,904 residents. In 2017, Sheriff Jesse Jahner made sure that his community would be benefiting from a drone as well. CCSD has one drone and two officers trained to operate it. They also share services with the Red River Valley UAS Unit that provides coverage for the Fargo Police Department, West Fargo Police Department, Fargo Fire Department, and West Fargo Fire Department.

On July 16, 2021, Sheriff Jahner said his officers had an opportunity to use the drone that proves how important drones are to law enforcement agencies. A little after 5 AM on the 16th, CCSD responded to a call from a homeowner in Gardner. The homeowner had seen a man walk out of a trailer on their property carrying a box. Believing they were being robbed, the homeowner immediately called CCSD. Upon arriving at the scene, CCSD set up a perimeter around the property, a large cornfield. Once all officers were in place to ensure the suspect could not evade them, another officer deployed the drone.

Within moments of sending the drone up over the cornfield, the operating officer was able to identify someone hiding in the field. Though it was still dark outside, the suspect could not hide from the drone’s thermal imaging camera. The drone pilot was then able to direct nearby officers to the exact location of the suspect. Stephen Patrick Murphy, a 31 year old from Moorhead, Minnesota, was arrested for possession of Methamphetamine and burglary. Though using the drone led to the rapid apprehension of Stephen, his accomplice had gotten away before CCSD arrived. However, Stephen cooperated, and deputies were able to apprehend the second suspect later on in Hillsboro, North Dakota.

Sheriff Jahner was very pleased with the swift results his deputies had in the cornfield using the drone. He said the when law enforcement officers have technology like drones, they are given tools that go beyond making their jobs easier. “That drone makes it safer for everyone,” Sheriff Jahner said. “I’m not only talking about law enforcement but all of the residents around the area and the suspects themselves.” He went on to say that, “just to get a visual image of the situation, to try to figure out how we can resolve the situation peacefully so no one gets hurt,” makes having drones vital tools for law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.