City of Norman

PROJECT PURPOSE

Addition of a tethered UAS device will provide necessary situational awareness, intelligence gathering, and incident coordination for long-lasting, multi-agency, critical incidents. This modern technological asset will allow for improved assessment of critical incidents, and provide increased employee and community safety by providing improved awareness and allowing for increased distances from scenes.

EVIDENCE

The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), with the U.S. Department of Justice?s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security published a report regarding the use of drones for law enforcement agencies. The report contains, examples where agencies have utilized drones to assist in public safety functions. Listed below is the citation of the source: Police Executive Research Forum. 2020. Drones: A Report on the Use of Drones by Public Safety Agencies?and a Wake?Up Call about the Threat of Malicious Drone Attacks. Washington, DC: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Published 2020

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Although this program will enhance public safety and benefit all community members, there are certain instances that drone capabilities would greatly assist our vulnerable populations. In the event a natural or man-made disaster were to occur, a drone response would be a critical asset needed to respond to our local nursing homes and public schools. During these situations, a drone could be used for search and rescue efforts, or even utilized for situational intelligence gathering. As we all know, the death rates of the elderly population due to COVID-19 were fairly significant. Currently in Norman, there are approximately nineteen nursing homes that hold many patients. When a natural or man-made disaster occurs, it can damage critical infrastructure (i.e. roads, power, water, etc.) which could require the evacuation of citizens. Since our elderly population is typically among our most vulnerable, it is crucial that we establish routes that will allow them to seek shelter as quickly as possible, with minimal contact to the general public so that COVID transmission does not occur. In these instances, drone capabilities would be able to assess routes and help public safety officials make safety-conscious decisions.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

It is required that the Norman Police Department document every drone deployment. This will be accomplished by completing a ?Mission Flight Report? after each deployment. The report will capture the case information, or reasons for the deployment, along with a series of flight data and overall disposition. Each report will be reviewed to determine any shortfalls in mission execution and will be used as a tool to enhance safety to the officers and public.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma