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Bonner County approves $17,288 drone for sheriff after public debate over Chinese-made models
Summary
After extended public comment and commissioner questions about vendor origin and funding, the Bonner County Board of Commissioners approved purchase of a thermal-capable drone for the sheriff’s office, using a combination of private donations and county funds.
The Bonner County Board of Commissioners voted to approve purchase of a drone for the sheriff’s office for $17,288, after public comment and board discussion about vendor origin, intended use and funding.
Sheriff Darryl Wheeler told the board the drone will be used “primarily for search and rescue,” and that the office chose a model with thermal capability because “when we're searching ... we did not have a drone that has thermal capability.” He added a statutory justification for the purchase: “Statutorily, the sheriff is required to be in charge of search and rescue, and we are required and mandated by state statute to search for those that are lost and endangered.”
The purchase drew several public…
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