The Champaign Police Department is launching a drone surveillance program aimed at enhancing safety within the community by offering a birds-eye view of large community events and other situations.

By introducing the ‘Unmanned Aerial System’ program, Champaign Police hopes to be able to “quickly search for missing persons, photograph crime scenes and traffic crashes with speed and accuracy and promote the safety of the community and police personnel,” according to a press release by the city. 

Officers must be licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration and comply with policy and flight training to operate the drones. Additionally, the UAS technology may be used to counter a high risk of a terrorist attack, prevent the escape of a suspect, or surveil an area during a disaster or public health emergency.

For more details about the unmanned aerial system program, visit the city’s website. 

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