Focusing in on the Newton Police drone unit

As a lost dog struggled to free itself from heavy vegetation in Cold Spring Park, a Newton Police officer could hear — but could not see — the frightened pet. Luckily, the police were searching not only by foot – they were also looking from above.

Using a DJI M30T drone’s thermal view, the pilot looked on his screen and could immediately pinpoint the wriggling dog’s bright heat signature in the middle of the dark brush. With that vital information, he was able to guide nearby officers to the frightened animal.

The successful rescue, which took place in 2023, is just one example of how the Newton Police Department’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Unit has helped locate missing people and animals after it was established in 2022 (although drones were not deployed until 2023). The department currently has eight licensed pilots and three more in training.

“It’s the most cutting-edge technology I’ve seen in my career,” said Officer Paul Boyle, a unit member who has flown the larger DJI M30T as well as the smaller, indoor DJI Avata drone, both of which are unarmed.

Although it’s only half the size of a shoebox, the Avata is quite loud. On a recent weekday, Boyle demonstrated how the machine worked while wearing FPV (first-person view) goggles to navigate. With a steady hand on the flight controller (which looks like an electric razor), he had the drone hover above furniture and then slowly glide through doorways and into tight spots.

During a recent incident, the Newton Police worked with METRO-LEC (the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council, the regional response unit), by using the Avata’s maneuverability. During a tense impasse, a man with a rifle refused to leave a home in a nearby town. Despite being in contact with police and knowing they were outside, the armed man came out only after police flew the Avata inside, safely resolving the incident.

Drone unit origins

Capt. Dennis Dowling proposed forming a drone unit within the department at a time when they saw a spike in missing-person calls, especially for those at risk (the elderly, children, etc.).

Drones can be essential tools, especially “when time is of the essence,” said Lt. Dan Poutas, a unit member.

“It’s more of a reactionary tool,” Dowling said.

In 2021, a few children had been reported missing at Crystal Lake. Fortunately, police were able to clear the area and find the kids, who were safe. However, if the department had had the larger drones at the time, they might have found the youngsters more quickly by directing the ground response more efficiently.

Knowing that “Costs were a big issue,” said Dowling, the department was able to purchase the three M30Ts and one Avata through asset forfeiture.

“We originally started with two M30Ts. Each package came with a five-day classroom instruction period for six personnel [and] was slightly under $15,000,” wrote Boyle. “The third M30T was $9,600. The Avata interior drone cost just under $1,500.”

While some people may think of drones as sophisticated “toys,” the Newton Police take the machines very seriously.

“We require all personnel interested in the drones to go through a vetting process and immediately begin an online course for their FAA Part 107 license,” said Boyle. “There are a lot of rules and regulations governing drone operations, and it’s important our pilots know how to stay in compliance.”

“We want people that are serious,” said Dowling.

In addition to the trained pilots, “all department members are certified as Visual Observers (VOs) and can assist the pilot with line-of-sight and equipment matters,” said Boyle.

For example, while a pilot looks on a screen to see where he or she is flying the drone, another officer (or officers) will watch the sky and, if necessary, follow the machine to see if there are any obstructions or help the pilot navigate it down safely if there is a malfunction.

Addressing privacy concerns

While drones can help with shorter response times in missing-person cases, some members of the public are wary about what police — and recreational — drone pilots are seeing and recording as their machines hover above.

“They’re [the police] not arbitrarily sending those drones up. … They’re not the eye-in-the-sky recording everyone,” said Lt. Amanda Henrickson of the Newton Police Community Services Bureau.

Some Newton organizations have asked the police to deploy the drones at different city events, including Paddy’s Road Race.

The M30Ts have spotlights — and speakers to help communicate with crowds and individuals — although the department has not needed to use those functions yet.

The drones also have recording capabilities. As they maneuver, a flight log is created and later can be downloaded. This record indicates the drone’s latitude and longitude, elevation, speeds, and more. This information can be used to verify the machine’s whereabouts should there be any questions.

The Newton Police’s drones have the capability to record in four different settings at the same time: thermal, wide, zoom, and first-person. However, they do not record every time the drones are used or for the entire length of time they are used.

Boyle said the officers in the unit make judgment calls in each situation about whether and when to start recording. For example, they may not make video of the drone traveling from wherever the pilot is to the scene of the incident itself. There is also a practical reason for not recording every moment of every incident: The SD (secure delivery) memory cards fill up quickly.

After being downloaded, some videos are retained as parts of investigations. Others are used as training tools (for example, the missing dog incident at Cold Spring Park).

Capabilities and limitations

The outdoor M30T, which weighs more than 8 pounds, is a powerful police tool that can be used in search-and-rescue operations as well as for crowd management and active crime scenes. Just some of its capabilities allow pilots to:

• Fly it in the rain, wind and fog
• Use its thermal view to penetrate through thick tree canopy
• Utilize four viewing modes: thermal, wide, zoom, and first person, all of which can be recorded
• Use it in temperatures up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit
• Fly it up to 400 feet in the air (although it has the capability to go higher)

The technology also has some limitations — including a relatively short battery life and limited recording capacity. The M30T can operate for only 30 minutes at a time, and the Avata 20 minutes at a time, before the batteries must be recharged.

Overall, members of the Newton Police feel the drones have been key in helping them do their jobs in critical situations.

“We can deploy a drone instantly; we don’t have to wait for a response from someone miles away,” said Boyle. “Also, should we need more aerial resources, METRO-LEC will respond, and we are able to work seamlessly together.”

“It’s a tool and an asset,” said Henrickson.

To learn more about the FAA’s rules for flying drones, visit https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_flyers