2014/12/19

The News Journal December 17, 2014: Wilmington's newest eye in the sky

A high-flying quadcopter that captures aerial images of crime scenes not available to police before is now being utilized by Wilmington investigators in the prosecution of homicide cases.

The quadcopter drone, unveiled last week along with the department's new Forensic Service bay conversion, makes Wilmington the first police department in the state to utilize this type of camera device.

"It's basically a camera on an aerial platform," said Master Sgt. Adam Ringle, who heads the 11-officer Forensic Sciences Unit. "We utilize it to take crime scene photos and videos used for courtroom purposes to display crime scenes in views not previously available for jurors and witnesses for different perspectives and prosecution purposes."

He shies away from calling the remote-control camera a drone, saying that word connotes an extended-range device or military-type aircraft, "and this is really not like that at all."

The aerial device was put into service at Monday night's die-in protest to monitor the perimeter to ensure there would be no breaches at blocked intersections that would cause potential injuries to either the crowd or officers, Ringle said.

"We don't do it routinely," he said. "It was a test just to see if we could cover all the intersections for safety purposes. Our main purpose is to video crime scenes and homicides."

The DJI drone has a built-in GPS, can stay airborne for 20 minutes on a single battery charge, has a range of 300 meters, and has an auto-return in cases where the wireless signal may be lost so the aircraft can safely return to its launch site.

Although it's capable of flying up to 1,000 feet in the sky, FAA regulations recommend a line of sight not greater than 400 feet, and Ringle said, they do not violate that.

The city purchased the quadcopter and accessories at a cost of just under $1,500. But the benefit is saving money for the taxpayers. more