Atherton, a city in the Bay Area, has become one of the first cities to incorporate drone technology into its police force. The small, remotely operated Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) provided by Houston-based startup Paladin, offer real-time data during various situations such as burglaries, missing persons cases, disaster response, traffic accidents, and active shooter incidents.
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The police department, consisting of 21 officers, signed a three-year lease agreement with Paladin to utilize the drones. While the department does not have drone pilots, their staff has been trained to monitor the flights and equipment. This allows them to gather critical intelligence and act as a deterrent to crime, ensuring the safety of both officers and residents.
Atherton was introduced to the drone technology by Flock, their automated license plate reader provider. The Menlo Park Fire Protection District has also been using drones for several years to assess wildfire damage and monitor fire spread.
Paladin CEO, Divy Shrivastava, mentioned that Atherton is the first city in the area to partner with them, as well as the first to establish a drone program. He further stated that the company will soon announce other clients and cities that will be testing the drones on a trial basis.
The drones used by Atherton have a 3-mile radius limit and operate on a cellular LTE connection. With a battery life of 55 minutes, they can capture sufficient video footage for most incidents and emergencies. To maintain privacy, operators are not allowed to purposely record or transmit images of locations where individuals would reasonably expect privacy, such as homes or yards.
Atherton’s adoption of drone technology highlights the benefits it brings to law enforcement and emergency response. The implementation of these devices enhances the capabilities of the police force and aids in ensuring the safety and security of the community. For inquiries about the drone program, please contact Cmdr. Dan Larsen.
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