The Huntsville Police Department first began researching drones in 2017. The success of the drone program has led to the introduction of drone tools by law enforcement agencies across the United States. Huntsville has promoted standardized training and hardware for the police drone program throughout Alabama with the help of partners such as Westwind and Autel Robotics.
The Huntsville Police Department initially selected the drone program to find drones that could provide officers with real-time intelligence, as well as collect forensic and crime scene information. The powerful and advanced Autel Evo II drone laid the foundation for the success of the Huntsville Police Department's drone program.
How does the Autel drone work for the Huntsville PD?
With the support of the police chief and city leaders, HVPD spent about a year developing and refining their program and training. HVPD has purchased 16 Autel EVO II and other types of drones in 2021, has 21 pilots and 7 reserve pilots, and has flown drones 1,241 times for a total of 273 hours.
“We are able to provide primary support for traffic investigations, drug interdiction, and special teams. It’s still a job to help everyone understand how this resource can benefit daily operations, but I am really amazed at the breadth of types of missions I now perform. For example, in traffic investigations, the THI often doesn’t have to wait for the pilot; they are already on scene,” said Chad Tillman with the Huntsville Police Department.
The Autel EVO II drone is a game changer for forensics. With its ease of use, long mission times, and durability, the Huntsville PD knows we can count on the performance of our aircraft when needed.
In addition to the drone itself, Autel’s Enterprise add-ons have also proven valuable. The ability to stream information through the Live Deck has been especially valuable; HVPD is able to share information with officers on the scene, the command team, and other agencies.
Huntsville Police Department’s Drone Program
The success of the Huntsville Police Department’s drone program has also driven interest in drones among neighboring agencies, becoming a focused demonstration drone program that improves law enforcement efficiency and public safety. Through the drone’s efficient surveillance capabilities, the police department can respond to emergencies faster, collect evidence, and increase the community’s sense of safety.
The use of drones is increasing by about 300% per year and plays a vital role in various police missions.
- On January 3, 2023, Huntsville police chased a suspect on the run and found the suspect on the roof after using a drone.
- On January 7, 2023, Huntsville PD helped firefighters pinpoint the flames on the top of Green Mountain with the help of a thermal imaging drone.
- On February 15, 2023, Huntsville PD explained the importance of special tool drones after severe weather (storms) and ensuring the safety of staff and residents. The head of the Huntsville Fire District discussed how drones can help in the event of major losses.
About Autel Drones
Autel Drones is on the road of research and innovation in commercial drones. Excellent and advanced industrial drones will bring great changes to the police department's law enforcement department and give full play to their effectiveness.
The Autel EVO MAX series drones are suitable for drone missions in a variety of complex environments with autonomy, swarm drone technology, and anti-interference performance.
The new generation of Autel EVO Lite series drones are lightweight and easy to use. The fuselage weighs only 866g, but it covers high-definition 6K imaging and 640*512 thermal imaging, and can perform AI recognition. The flight time can reach 40 minutes.
We look forward to cooperating with more police departments.
