SPOKANE, Wash. — Drone technology is giving Spokane police officers a significant advantage in catching criminals while keeping the public safer.
The Spokane Police Department’s Air Support Unit (ASU) recently deployed drones during a vehicle pursuit that demonstrates the technology’s potential.
Deputies from Stevens County were chasing a black Chevrolet Silverado down southbound Monroe Street Tuesday night, when the pursuit drew too close to Spokane’s busy city limits to continue.
But SPD had a drone already deployed and the aerial perspective allowed officers to track the vehicle without engaging in a dangerous chase through city streets.
“Having the drone up overhead, not applying pressure to the suspects — they had no idea — and then providing updates to patrol… It’s an absolute game changer,” said Sergeant Craig Hamilton, who oversees the Spokane Police Department’s Air Support Unit.
Hamilton believes the drone surveillance was instrumental in taking one of the suspects into custody during that pursuit.
“Maybe we would have caught up. But again, there’s a significant delay just from the time people call 911,” Hamilton said.
The Spokane Police Department is currently test-piloting four Skydio X10 drones under the “Drones as First Responders Program.” For the month of July, drone manufacturer Skydio is allowing the department to use specialized launch pods at no cost to the city.
“We’re basically collecting data to see if it’s cost-effective for the city to move forward with this type of program,” Hamilton explained.
The department owns four Skydio X10 aircraft, but the loaned pods allow officers to launch the drones remotely from multiple locations, rather than having to drive to a single launch site.
In just three weeks, the four drones have completed approximately 400 flights. While some are test flights to evaluate the technology, Hamilton said the vast majority are directly related to actual police calls.
“We end up with more arrests and it’s safer for everybody,” Hamilton said.
The Spokane Police Department plans to present the data collected during the four-week pilot program to city administration officials on Monday, July 27. The results could determine whether the city moves forward with a permanent remote launching system.
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