Adams Township acquires 2 drones for police use
ADAMS TWP — Township supervisors approved the purchase of an Autel Robotics Alpha L35T drone, plus accompanying pilot training, for the township’s police department during a board meeting on Monday night, March 9.
The township will purchase one drone from Steel City Drones, a company based in Carnegie. Another company, Avio Industries out of Pittsburgh, will donate an additional drone to the township and provide pilot training.
According to police Chief Shawn Anglum, both drones will be owned by the township and the police department will be able to make use of one of them.
“It’ll be used for police incidents where we need any type of aerial surveillance,” Anglum said. “And it’ll be used for community events. Parks and rec can use it for their events as well.”
The total cost of the two drones, plus pilot training, amounts to $31,136. Anglum said the police department has budgeted for a drone since last year, but held off on requesting a purchase until this year.
“It was budgeted last year, but we just weren’t there yet, so we pushed it off till this year,” Anglum said.
The operation of drones in Pennsylvania is strictly governed by Title 18, Section 3505 of the state code, which sets the rules for operating unmanned aircraft, along with the Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees drone piloting in the United States.
Anglum said he hopes for the township and the police department to begin operating the drones by this summer.
The Rich-Mar Rotary Club presented a check for $2,000 to the Adams Township Police Department.
“This is just a token of our appreciation for everything these men and women do to help protect us every day,” said Rotarian Jim Long.
