Sheriff's office receives $10K for drone program

The Rogers County Sheriff’s Office is expanding its drone program after receiving a $10,000 grant from BNSF Railway. Officials say drones have been effective for locating suspects in fields and supporting standoffs, offering a lower-cost alternative to more expensive tools such as helicopters. The grant will fund a drone that can fly inside a residence, enabling deputies to search a home without entering. The aircraft is described as having a window-breaking tool, thermal and night vision, and a built-in cellphone to communicate with people inside. Capt. Bronson Smith said the drone can be used to check for trapped people, including during emergencies. He cited a standoff where Claremore Police used drones to identify a suspect’s location before deputies used a small drone to gain entry through a door opening. Smith also described a burglary search in which a thermal drone helped locate a suspect hiding in tall grass. He said the department can use drones to provide an “eye in the sky” without paying about $1.5 million per year for a helicopter program.