By Spring 2019, Greenville, South Carolina’s Police Department will have UAS technology as part of its operations.

According to Police Chief Ken Miller, the department can invest in the technology thanks to receiving a federal grant.

“Our intentional use is to purchase some sort of unmanned aircraft systems,” Miller says via WSPA-TV.

UAS have been used in the state to survey the flooding caused by Hurricane Florence. Miller says that there is no shortage of ways to utilize this technology.  

“There are many departments in the city that have interest in this technology,” Miller says.

One of the ways that the Greenville PD reportedly plans to use its UAS is to fight crime. Currently, the Department borrows the Greenville Sheriff's Office helicopter for missions such as man hunts, but that is expensive. UAS on the other hand run on batteries, and require less manpower to complete the task.

With this in mind, properly trained officers will use the department's UAS for tasks such as recreating car crashes.

“We already pull down satellite images, but those satellite images, as you know, can sometimes be date,” Miller says.

Additionally, officers will be able to use the UAS to monitor large crowds during events, and send it into active shooter situations. 

The department will also use its UAS to locate missing persons, including the elderly, and those with Alzheimer's and Dementia.