The Utah Division of Wildlife
Resources recently launched its inaugural drone law enforcement team according
to a news release on Thursday. Authorities say the drone team will serve as a
boon for investigations.
“Using drones will help us more
effectively solve wildlife crimes, and having trained law enforcement drone
pilots will also allow us to assist other law enforcement agencies with
search-and-rescue efforts or any other investigations,” said DWR Captain Wade
Hovinga in the release. “Utah conservation officers are public servants, and
these new tools will help us better serve the public, whether we’re solving
poaching crimes or locating lost hunters.”
According to the release, the new
Unmanned Aerial Systems team had to become certified through the Federal
Aviation Administration to utilize drones for law enforcement. The UAS team is
comprised of five conservations officers located throughout the state,
officials wrote.
According to the release, the
drone team will work in a variety of functions including:
— Documenting crime scenes.
— Searching for evidence and
locating illegally taken wildlife.
— Assisting landowners by
investigating illegal trespassing on private property.
— Helping other law enforcement
agencies with search-and-rescue efforts.
— Assisting biologists with
wildlife surveys.
— Documenting boating accidents.
— Investigating hunting-related
shooting incidents.
— Investigating wildlife/human
encounters.
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