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Police describe search-and-rescue, firefighting uses for thermal drone; commission asks for quotes
Summary
Cordele police outlined operational reasons for a thermal-imaging drone — missing persons, foot-chase support, fire-scene overview — and commissioners requested formal quotes and a procurement recommendation, including FAA training and vendor-selection considerations.
Police Chief (S14) told the commission that a thermal-imaging drone would provide a bird’s-eye view in situations such as missing persons, nighttime foot chases and structure fires.
"If we were able to launch a drone, I think that we could have found him," the chief said, describing a case in which aerial thermal imaging aided locating a missing elderly person. He listed other uses including searching for missing children, assisting in fire scenes and supporting surrounding agencies on mutual-aid calls.
The chief said the department would pursue FAA training for certified pilots and recommended training four pilots to build redundancy. He also warned of federal procurement issues with some vendors and noted agencies nationwide were shifting to U.S.-made platforms for security reasons.
Commissioners asked for a written quote and a recommendation to return with the final price; one commissioner suggested bringing the item back at the next meeting with more details. No procurement vote occurred; the item will be revisited after staff submits final quotes and vendor options.
