For Immediate Release: 9/19/2023 9:27 pm
Small Unmanned Aircraft System Quarterly Report
The Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) log was created and will be maintained as part of the department’s commitment to transparency.
The Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) has been requested for deployment 5 (five) times since the program was launched on Friday, June 9, 2023. While the Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) was requested five times, the equipment was only in flight three times. All of this activity is logged and detailed. One of the deployments last month was a demonstration of the technology for citizens to engage with police and ask questions about the technology at a well-attended community event. Other uses assisted with intense situations including a barricaded subject. During this incident, the technology greatly enhanced officer and citizen safety. The technology also provided officers with key information that allowed them to successfully resolve the matter under dangerous circumstances. The following log of activity displays: the date, incident number, location, reason for deployment and the name of the requester. Please note that during the month of June there were no requests for deployment.
Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) Log:
1. July 07, 2023 I# 2023000063750 51 Colby St to provide assistance with barricaded suspect. Airdata reports on file. Requested by Lt. Paul Gaffney
2. July 14, 2023 I#2023000066619 86 Cutler St. to provide assistance for a person with a gun. sUAS remained on scene but was never deployed. (never left the ground) Requested by Lt. John Bossolt
3. August 1, 2023 Fuller Family Park on Murray Ave. Participated in 40th Anniversary of National Night Out. Flew demonstration missions and spoke with families in attendance (kids fascinated by the drones) about the many advantages of the Worcester Police Department having a sUAS Program. Airdata reports on file. Requested by Officer Rebecka Mailea
4. August 11, 2023 I#2023000077502 6 Dorchester St to provide assistance for subject wanted for Armed Robbery charges. sUAS remained on scene but was never deployed. (never left the ground) Requested by Lt. John Bossolt
5. August 22,2023 I#2023000074462 280 Clark St request made to check wooded area for stolen boat/trailer supplemental to recovery of stolen car. (tree canopy too thick flight was unsuccessful). Airdata reports on file. Requested by Lt. Miguel Lopez
Note: On July 7, 2023 I#2023000063750 51 Colby St. A flight was made using our DJI Mini 3 Pro drone no data was captured by Airdata. This issue has since been addressed with Airdata IT personnel. While this one flight was not captured by Airdata a full video of this flight was uploaded to evidence.com and is part of the I#2023000063750 case file.
