<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">Courtesy of <i>KLEW-TV News </i>at:<div><br></div><div><a href="http://klewtv.com/news/local/pullman-police-department-drone-program">http://klewtv.com/news/local/pullman-police-department-drone-program</a><br><div><br></div><div>———————————————</div><div><br></div><div><div><h1 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 48px; margin: 0px; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; line-height: 57px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); padding: 0px 0px 32px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(216, 216, 216); caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Pullman Police Department Drone Program</h1></div><div><br></div><div>PULLMAN, WA — The Federal Aviation Administration issued Pullman Police Department their drone certification.</div><div><br></div><div>They can now fly over a total of 7 counties in Washington and Idaho.</div><div>Just last week PPD’S drones helped Washington State Patrol search for a driver who ran away from them.</div><div><br></div><div>The added perspective from the air enabled Pullman officers to provide assistance, then return to patrol quickly.</div><div><br></div><div>They've also documented major crime scenes, supported Quad Cities Drug Task Force operations and evaluated traffic patterns during major athletic events,</div><div><br></div><div>Officer Alex Gordon is one of the drone pilots and is now a certified Federal Aviation Administration Pilot.</div><div><br></div><div>He spent almost 30 hours learning to fly and how to use all the features.</div><div><br></div><div>"One of the features is that we can set it to follow objects or things we've used that somewhat to try and test with us to follow a patrol car," Gordon said.</div><div><br></div><div>They've also used it during training exercises to review their formations and driving.</div><div><br></div><div>It will help the most when dealing with elevation they can search faster, maneuver hills and buildings.</div><div><br></div><div>It also helps police in potentially dangerous situations.</div><div><br></div><div>"We also have the availability of a heads up display so if it needs to go inside a structure officers can look using the heads up display and still navigate," Chief Jenkins said.</div><div><br></div><div>Instead of an officer, they can send in their drone first just in case of an ambush.</div><div><br></div><div>Four new drones, roughly $10,000 investment the chief says is worth every penny.</div><div><br></div><div>"It definitely makes us more efficient and helps make the community safer," Chief Jenkins said.</div></div><div><br></div><div>———————————————<br><br><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div> </div></div></div></div></body></html>