Commissioners back using opioid-settlement funds to buy two drones for sheriff

Ian, representing the opioid settlement steering committee (JARAC, Adams County), told commissioners the committee voted unanimously to recommend using $40,650 of unrestricted opioid settlement funds to purchase two drones for the sheriff's office: one larger outdoor drone with thermal and zoom capabilities and a smaller indoor drone with protected propellers for use in building searches.

Ian said the committee sought confirmation from the attorney general's office and received guidance that "unrestricted means unrestricted," and that proposed uses tied to public-safety and drug-investigation-related needs were permissible. The sheriff (unnamed in the transcript) described operational uses that included searching for missing people in fields, inspecting structures for meth labs or marijuana grows and potentially using drones in active-shooter or barricade incidents to reduce officer risk.

The sheriff described training plans, saying he would host a spring class to certify two operators and that exemptions for law enforcement flight over people would be respected; he said two deputies would be trained as primary and secondary operators. Commissioners asked about training and costs; the sheriff said one operator's training had been arranged for free if the county hosted the course, which would allow two operators to be certified.

An unidentified commissioner moved to approve the recommendation and commission approval was given to advance the appropriation to the county council. Staff said the sheriff's department will order the drones upon appropriation and that operational deployment will await operator certification and equipment delivery.