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Improving efficiency, protecting the public and protecting officers.
Those are the three criteria Jefferson City Police Chief Eric Wilde considers when making decisions about spending the department’s money on technology. Looking at what they have now, Wilde says they meet those criteria.
“The department’s spending on technology to fight crime more effectively will continue to increase, but we must continue to make that investment,” Wilde said.
JCPD Sgt. Andy Lehnert is in charge of many of the department’s technology tools, such as remote-controlled drones.
Lennert and three other members of the department assigned to operate drones must obtain remote pilot certification from the Federal Aviation Administration. This certification demonstrates that you understand the regulations, operational requirements, and procedures for safely flying drones. According to the FAA, drones can fly at or below 400 feet in controlled airspace.
“A big part of that training is that we have to demonstrate our knowledge of the weather,” Lehnert said. “It’s a big reason to fly drones because things like improvements near buildings can really wreak havoc on the vehicle, causing property damage or, God forbid, harming people.”
Lehner said they must be certified by the FAA every two years.
“Learning never stops because the drone industry has changed faster than the federal government can keep up with,” Lenert said. “The technology is coming out fast.”
Lennert said he and his teammates train drones as often as possible.
“Operationally, we can use these twice a week or once every two months,” Lenert said. “It depends on what’s going on. I’ve told our shift commanders that they shouldn’t hesitate to call us at any time if they feel like they could use our help, and we’ll go there.”
Lehnert said the drones have proven valuable during the execution of search warrants and when dealing with subjects who have barricaded themselves inside a home or building.
The Brink Lemur drone they own isn’t the largest drone, but it has plenty of capabilities that allow officers to operate more safely than in the past. The Lemur has a two-way communication device that allows an officer to communicate with the drone via their mobile phone. The drone can then fly into or out of the structure and the officer can communicate with someone inside from a safe distance. It also has a glass breaker, the ability to see in low light conditions, and reverse after an accident. These devices are only used by law enforcement agencies or the military.
“We don’t know what a restricted subject will do, so the drone can give us a first look before we send people there,” Lennert said. If you destroy the drone it’s just a weapon, we don’t want to see people get hurt.
Lemurs can fly into some tight spots, like under beds, but JCPD has a larger drone, the Matrice 200, which can stay in the air for about an hour and fly up to nine miles. It has a thermal camera that can record video and take photos. It has a temperature sensor that can detect small differences in temperature. The device collects the infrared radiation from objects in the space and creates an electronic image based on the information about the temperature difference.
Another piece of high tech the JCPD is using is called the TrueBot. Lenert said the concept is relatively simple, but it’s actually a micro-robotic platform that allows an operator to quickly access video and audio data in indoor and outdoor environments.
“You can throw it up an upstairs window and then, like a drone, we have the ability to remotely control it to look inside the building we need to search,” Lehner said. “The microphone allows you to listen to what’s inside, but it doesn’t have the communication capabilities of a drone.”
The most anticipated new technology for JCPD is body cameras for all officers, and Wilde said funding the program has always been a big deal for them. But recent actions have helped.
The city council passed a resolution in May, allowing the city to apply for a grant from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which, if granted, will provide up to $180,000. The city expects to hear if it has received the grant by Oct. 1. The rest of the more than $655,000 expected cost, including 39 in-car cameras and other related equipment, will be paid for by a quarter of the population. A security tax voters approved last year.
Wilde said the cameras could be used early next year. A body camera program looks to hold police officers and the community accountable.
“We also have equipment in our patrol cars that allows us to respond quickly to incidents,” Wilde said. “With the added cost of technology comes increased efficiency, so we’re not just sitting in the department all day writing reports. We can do it in the field, and we don’t have to rely on radio communication to get details. About the calls we respond to, because of the computers in the vehicles, we see that information at any time. And we can return.
“It’s worth it for the results we’re getting,” he said, even though they have to deal with constant upgrades like the computers in cars every five years.
In an accompanying video, JCPD Sgt. Andy Lenert demonstrates the drone and talks about how to use it.
Julie Smith/News Tribune Photo: Sgt. Andrew Lennart demonstrates one of the ways to use a slingshot. The Jefferson City Police Department has demonstrated some of the technologies it can use at various times to help reduce injuries to the officer(s) and the public. The drones are equipped with cameras including thermal camera, lighting, attachment and more.
Julie Smith/News Tribune Photo: Sgt. Andrew Lennart shows off some of the technology the Jefferson City Police Department has through a thermal imaging camera.
Julie Smith/News Tribune Photo: Sgt. Andrew Lennart discusses some of the technologies that the Jefferson City Police Department can use at various times to help reduce injuries to the officer(s) and the public. The drones are equipped with cameras including thermal camera, lighting, attachment and more.
Julie Smith/News Tribune photo Sgt. Andrew Lennart discusses some of the technologies that the Jefferson City Police Department can use at various times to help reduce injuries to the officer(s) and the public. The drones are equipped with cameras including thermal camera, lighting, attachment and more.
Julie Smith/News Tribune Sgt. Andrew Lennart discusses some of the technologies that the Jefferson City Police Department can use at various times to help reduce injuries to the officer(s) and the public. The drones are equipped with cameras including thermal camera, lighting, attachment and more.
Photo by Julie Smith/News Tribune: A throwing boot rolls across the floor, being monitored remotely by Jefferson City Police Department Sgt. Andrew Lenart. The bot contains a camera and a rubber cover that can be thrown around a room or through an open window and allows police to see what’s going on inside.[ad_2]
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