Can drones – either aerial or ground-based – serve as a de-escalation tool? Communities and courts are making ever-greater demands that law enforcement officers exercise all available options before resorting to use of force and demanding that officers find ways of resolving dangerous and volatile situations without the use of force also reduces risk of officer injuries and deaths. Remotely piloted or driven vehicles with mounted cameras and listening devices can be used to locate, isolate and communicate with potentially dangerous individuals from a safe distance, while avoiding the necessity of placing a human or K-9 officer in the line of fire.
Small, inexpensive drones offer law enforcement agencies a tremendous opportunity to leverage technology in a way that enhances agency operations and improves officer and public safety. There are multiple benefits to utilizing drones, but one crucial benefit that should not be overlooked is their benefit to the goal of de-escalating volatile and potential deadly interactions between law enforcement officers and those they encounter in the field.
As commander of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s Aviation Unit, Sgt. Ron Shelnutt has firsthand experience in the ways in which drones can and have been utilized as a de-escalation tool that can save lives. In this webinar, Sgt. Shelnutt will discuss the strategies that his agency and others across the country have utilized in leveraging this exciting new technology to enhance situational awareness and decision-making for officers on the ground.
In this webinar, topics covered will include:
Ron Shelnutt
Consent Questions
Webinar Handout
Drones as a De-Escalation Tool for Law Enforcement | Hour 1
Drones as a De-Escalation Tool for Law Enforcement | Hour 2
