Hoehmtown Happenings

Drone Technology in Clarkstown

We live in an age where it seems that technology is always rapidly improving, sometimes at a pace even faster than we can imagine. Thankfully, we benefit from these advancements in many ways. Some technological advances simply make our lives a little more convenient, such as making our cell phones faster, able to store more information, and take better pictures than ever before. Other advances are life-changing, such as new medical technologies which are able to better diagnose and fight diseases, often to the point where conditions which were previously fatal are largely treatable today. New technologies, both big and small, are also helping police departments across the country be more efficient and effective in helping people, solving crimes, and saving lives. 

Along with advances in areas such as DNA analysis, body cameras, and license plate readers, drone technology has become a highly effective tool for police investigations. If a child goes missing in a wooded area, a drone equipped with infrared cameras can quickly scan vast stretches of land in minutes, detecting heat signatures that a ground search might miss. In natural disasters, drones provide critical situational awareness by guiding first responders through flooded streets or forest fires while keeping officers and other first responders out of harm’s way. A drone can enter an active crime scene and identify the locations of both victims and perpetrators. There are an incredible number of ways in which drone use can protect police officers and help them resolve issues faster and more effectively. 

I’m proud to highlight that the Clarkstown Police Department has been a leader in embracing all the benefits provided by the use of these unmanned aircraft systems.  Our police department has the most advanced and extensive drone division of any town in the state. We have 16 officers trained in their use, with two on duty at all times. The department owns 4 highly capable drone units, ready to assist officers in both outdoor and indoor searches. The fleet can handle everything from the lost hiker in acres of woods scenario to an active emergency inside a school or building. The department also recently implemented the use of groundbreaking software that can identify a drone that unlawfully enters crime scenes or accident scenes.

Most commonly, our drones are used for motor vehicle accident reconstruction and managing large scale events. Less common, but far more urgent uses, have included hostage situations, missing persons, threats to schools, and pursuits of criminals. Often, we are called upon to assist other police departments and emergency services. Just last week, we successfully assisted Orangetown PD in the safe recovery of a missing person. Our drone officers also provided invaluable coverage in helping to contain the CSX brush fires that raged through Congers in 2023.

I am very proud of Chief Wanamaker and the Clarkstown Police Department for their commitment to embracing this and other important technologies, which is an important part of ensuring we can protect all our residents and visitors to our town. The Town Board and I will continue to work with CPD to increase and update our drone and other capabilities as technology continues to rapidly evolve. You can be sure that your safety is always our top priority.