The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office has announced the creation of a new section of their department, the Small Unmanned Aerial System or Drone Section.
Sheriff Scott Anslum says the sUAS section will offer several useful applications for the department primarily in Search and Rescue Missions.
The Sheriff’s Office worked closely with the Federal Aviation Administration to create a Certificate of Authorization that details how the drones will be used by law enforcement. Anslum says that the COA covers flight plans, maintenance, ground personnel, and other responsibilities necessary for the department’s use of the drones.
Three sheriff’s office employees have already been licensed by the FAA to operate the drones safely and legally.
