Wood Co. Sheriff to Implement Drone Use

QUITMAN — The Wood County Sheriff’s Office will soon be implementing the use of a drone. According to KETK, Sheriff Jim Brown said flight training will begin within the month, weather permitting. The drone will be used for search and rescue, surveillance on drug operations, photographing crime scenes, and searching agricultural lands for marijuana fields and drug labs, among other missions. Brown says the drone is paid for by proceeds seized from drug dealers. The unmanned aircraft is capable of reaching heights of 350 feet, can fly more than 90 minutes at a time, and has a range of more than a mile from the controller. Brown said the drone operates with 4K state of the art video technology. The Sheriff’s Office drone also has thermal camera (FLIR) capability for nighttime operation.