2024 was a busy year for the EPPD’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) team!

In fact, it was the busiest year since the program began in 2020.

In 2024, our drones recorded 91 events – 52 activations and 39 training events. In 2023, the UAS team deployed 55 times and in 2022 they had just 40 deployments.

The team was started to help locate missing and endangered people, find fleeing suspects, support investigative functions and meet other public safety needs. The department has four active drones and is managed by a team of five sworn officers and one civilian volunteer who have received extensive training on drone operations and policies.