In Bossier Parish, Louisiana, the sheriff’s office is crediting a UAS equipped with an infrared camera in helping to locate a suspect in a burglary on July 26.

The UAS was deployed in response to “low moon visibility,” and within two minutes, the UAS’ thermal camera spotted the suspect “walking in the tree line.”

The K-9 team then went to the suspect's exact location, and the 51-year old man was taken into custody.

For Bossier Sheriff Julian C. Whittington, this technology is extremely beneficial, and can be used for a number of different tasks.

“Having these drones is a priority,” Whittington says via a post from the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office Facebook page, as transcribed by Unmanned Aerial.

“When we have the ability to launch a drone and quickly locate suspects like we did in this case – or survey damage from a natural disaster or find lost children or an elderly person who has wandered off – that’s a success.”

The Bossier Sheriff’s office recently established its “Drone Patrol” program, which is made up of 10 trained deputies. Those deputies, who are trained as both pilots and observers, can be called upon to operate the UAS at any point in time during the day or night.

“It’s another tool in our toolbox, and quite frankly, when it comes to the use of technology to help people, the sky’s the limit,” Whittington adds.