LCSO’s ‘Dragonfish’ to allow for quicker response to calls
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has become the first law enforcement agency in the country to implement a new type of drone technology.
The Dragonfish, developed by Autel Robotics, is an advanced fixed-wing drone that law enforcement officials said will “revolutionize the way they respond to calls.”
The newest tool to LCSO’s fleet was designed with a unique tilt rotor design that allows it to takeoff and land vertically. This feature enables deputies to deploy the drone from anywhere within 10 seconds while live video is relayed back to the intelligence center.
“The ability to fly our chopper for one call and launch the Dragonfish for another allows us to provide a higher level of service to the citizens of Lee County,” Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said in a statement. “Every time we can increase the number of calls we answer at a time, we’re helping save lives.”
According to a release, officials from LCSO said they were drawn to the Dragonfish because of its two-hour flight time, which far outmatches the 20-minute flight time allotted by most of their other drones currently operating.
“The longer flight capability will enable operators to use the Dragonfish to locate missing persons and track wanted subjects in place of a helicopter, minimizing the demand on the agency’s Aviation Unit and allowing more calls to be handled simultaneously,” the release sated.
The Dragonfish has a top speed of 67 mph and can fly up to 18 miles from the operator. It boasts a 4Koptical zoom lens and infrared camera, assisting with calls for response at night.
“As sheriff, my goal is to bring the latest and greatest technology to this agency,” Marceno said. “The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is proud to be the first law enforcement agency to use the Dragonfish in our day-to-day operations.”
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