Hearing on Drone Legislation Set in Maryland

OCEAN PINES, Md. - A new idea is lifting off in Ocean Pines, as police officers now have drones at their disposal. The purpose of this new addition is quite simple. 

"One of the things we can use it for is to help find missing people," says Officer Ricky Kerrigan. 

Officer Kerrigan says there are people with Alzheimer's in Ocean Pines and they go missing quite often. Kerrigan says finding them on foot hasn't always been easy. 

"When we're looking for a missing person, you can just take it up. I can see a larger area, I can cover more wooded area, that would take more people on the ground to cover." 

Ocean Pines received the drone from a state grant. The drone can fly 400 feet above the tallest tree or structure and it has a range of over four miles. 

Richard Soistman lives in Ocean Pines and says he feels a lot more comfortable with the new piece of equipment in the air. 

"I feel like it will help us protect us a quite a  bit," says Soistman. 

Officers say the drone will also be used during police chases. 

 

Recommended for you