The mission of The Elmira Police Departments small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) Drone Program is to provide airborne support to police and emergency operations in a safe, responsible, and transparent manner, for the purpose of increasing the safety and security of citizens in the City of Elmira.
The Elmira Police Department’s Aviation unit is comprised of six officers that are trained in the utilization of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, more commonly referred to as “drones”. The Elmira Police Department’s aviation unit was the first FAA authorized law enforcement agency in New York, starting in January of 2017. Each Officer goes through extensive training regarding the utilization of the sUAS in a law enforcement capacity. The Elmira Police Department routinely utilizes drones in a multitude of police functions such as; search and rescue, accident reconstruction, crime scene photography, surveillance of dangerous areas along with assisting other agencies. While the use of drones in law enforcement is still in its infancy, the Elmira Police Department Aviation consistently discovers and implements new applications for drone usage with the ultimate goal of providing a safer environment for police officers and citizens of the City of Elmira.