The Dallas (TX) Police Department recently made their case to that city's Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee that the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for missions such as search and rescue would benefit the city.
According to the Dallas Morning News, Assistant Chief Paul Stokes told the committee, "People think that we're going to drop them in backyards and spy on them—that's not the purpose of this equipment," he said.
Stokes said the price for the department's preferred aerial systems range from $7,500 to more than $30,000. The low-cost models work in daytime and low-light settings. The mid-range aircraft, with thermal imaging technology, cost between $10,000 and $15,000. The most expensive, highest-tech versions specifically designed for law enforcement use, can cost more than $30,000.