AMARILLO, Texas —The Amarillo Police Department has begun new drone training to improve public safety and assist first responders, KFDA reported.
The department is replacing older drones with two Skydio X10 drones that meet security standards and can withstand the region’s strong winds, according to the report.
Lt. Shane Chadwick stated the drones will be deployed for various tasks, including monitoring minor disturbances, aiding active crime scenes and providing visual support for firefighters. A key feature is thermal imaging, which can assist in search and rescue operations and fire detection.
“It gives us an overall view of situational awareness of what’s going on. We can see a lot more. I mean you’re standing on the street, you just got that two-dimensional idea of what we can see, but a drone has a third dimension. You can see them from the top down,” Chadwick said.
The department plans to expand its fleet with drones stationed at police and fire locations citywide, according to the report. The project is funded through APD’s seized funds, and any video captured without evidentiary value will be discarded.
