Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones, provide airborne support to police operations. These drones increase community and responder safety and de-escalate violent situations. 

The City of Bend Police Department currently use 15 drones in the field. These systems allow 24/7 response to incidents and sometimes multiple incidents. We have a variety of systems with specific capabilities and assorted payloads to allow for various jobs, such as crime scene mapping. There are also several sizes to allow for longer flight time or flying within a building.

Ways We Use Drones

Our department uses drones as a way to provide our officers with critical information as they respond to emergency situations and conduct criminal investigations. Some examples include providing an overhead view of a motor vehicle crash scene, safely clearing the interior of a building at a burglary call, providing detailed documentation of a crime scene, and searching large areas for missing people. They may also be used at a search warrant scene, but only if authorized by a judge.

Under Oregon law, drones cannot be used by law enforcement for random surveillance. Law enforcement must have a specific justification each time a drone is used. 

Drone In Action

This video is an example of a foot pursuit that occurred at night in Bend after a criminal mischief incident. The drone increased safety for everyone involved in the event by allowing a planned arrest of the suspect while minimizing risk to responders. 

Drone Operators

The Bend Police Department has 10 drone operators, two team leaders and a program manager. Operators must pass their FAA Part 107 license, attend a basic UAS school, and pass the NIST UAS flight standard.

Guidelines

• Bend Police Department stores evidentiary data obtained by a UAS pursuant to OAR 166-150-0135 at evidence.com. The agreement for that storage is here.
• ORS 192.345
• Bend Police Policy 604

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