New drone at the Wayne Police Department

Wayne Police Lieutenant Robert Amore and Chief Ryan Strong overseeing a drone operation. Photo by John Rhaesa

By Sarah Shurge – “It’s eyes in the skies for safety purposes, for big events, and concerts. It’s an extra layer of security and captures video evidence,” said Lori Gouin, Downtown Development Authority (DDA) director.
Gouin is referring to the new drone that the Wayne Police Department (WPD) now has.
A drone, or unmanned aerial vehicle, receives remote commands from a pilot or relies on software for autonomous flight.
In 2015, the Michigan State Police became the first statewide police agency in the country to win approval to use drones in accident and crime scene investigations, according to the Detroit News.
In November 2022, the WPD purchased DJI Mini 2 drones.
The WPD used the drones for suspect apprehension and surveillance.
“Drones are really good for crime or robbery situations. They [police] can utilize the drone to go in the air and protect businesses,” said Gouin.
However, due to advanced laws from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the DJI Mini 2 drones were no longer able to be flown, particularly so close to an airport.
“During the short time with lower-tech drones, we learned they are a very valuable tool for public safety,” said Wayne Police Chief Ryan Strong.
The WPD team researched drones that best fit the department’s needs.
“We talked with the DDA about how nice it would be if the police department could use the footage of events for promotional purposes, and to view crowd size for planning future events. But with a dual purpose of safety,” said Chief Strong.

A view of Downtown Wayne from the police drone.

The DDA agreed, and getting a new drone became a shared project between the DDA and WPD.
“We’re committed to the well-being of the City of Wayne. This partnership is a great opportunity to help the public and keep them safe,” said Chief Strong.
In May, the DDA purchased an upgraded drone, while the WPD purchased accessories for the new drone.
The WPD now has a DJI Matrice 30T drone with a speaker, spotlight, and thermal imaging.
“It meets the standards by FFA so it can be flown,” said Chief Strong. “It’s another public safety tool that allows us to keep the public and police department safe.”
The drone allows surveillance of suspects or large crowds. The thermal camera (heat signature) helps find missing people in the woods area. The speaker allows directions to be given to people if looking for a lost person.
“We’re continuing to look for ways to keep people safe at our events and protect our businesses. Drones are the newest thing that all communities are engaging in,” said Chief Strong.
The annual car cruise, Cruisin’ US12, is extremely crowded. During this past cruise, the WPD received calls of a large fight. They deployed the drone and were able to find the area within 30 seconds and saw that the fight had already ended.
The WPD has been able to use drones in the past as well.
After a robbery of a local business, the suspect was in the area again and was armed. The WPD deployed a drone and observed the scene. They waited until citizens were cleared from the area.
The drone provided real time information to officers about the suspect’s location and actions. There were two suspects in the original incident and with the drone, the team learned both suspects were back.
Officers quickly apprehended both suspects.
The drone handlers are a five-person team, consisting of a Sergeant in charge and four officers.
The team participates in classroom training over several days, flying drones, reading charts and maps of the area, and filing flight plans with the FAA. To complete their training, they must pass a difficult test administered by the FAA.
“Our drone team consists of highly trained and professional officers. They are an asset to the Wayne Police Department and to the City of Wayne,” said Chief Strong.
For more information about the Wayne Police Department, visit cityofwayne.com/159/Police or you can find them on Facebook by searching “City of Wayne, Michigan Police Department.”