Priya patelTLDR: An officer with the Baton Rouge Police Department used drone technology to apprehend a juvenile suspect involved in a burglary. The officer responded to a burglary reported at an apartment complex and used a drone to track down and arrest one suspect. The juvenile was charged with multiple offenses, while the second suspect remains at large. The department is expanding its drone unit as a safer and more efficient alternative to helicopters. With more officers trained to use drones, the department aims to make quicker arrests and ensure the safety of the city.
An officer from the Baton Rouge Police Department successfully utilized drone technology to apprehend a juvenile suspect involved in a burglary. Officer DurAhnjae Vessell responded to a burglary reported at the Bellemont Victoria II apartment complex on La Margie Avenue at around 3:30 am on February 15. When the two suspects fled the scene, Officer Vessell used a drone to track down and arrest one of them. The arrested juvenile was charged with three counts of damage to property, five counts of vehicle burglary, and one count of resisting an officer. The second suspect remains at large.
Sgt. Darren Ahmed, an officer with the Baton Rouge Police Department, states that the use of drone technology is part of the department’s approach to “21st century policing.” They are steadily growing their drone unit as an alternative to the use of helicopters. Sgt. Dustin Conde, Commander of the BRPD Drone Unit, explains that drones are a safer way of tracking down criminals from an aerial perspective. He stated, “The helicopter can stay in the air a long time, great cameras, spotlight. But with the drones, officers on the streets have them. They’re not waiting for anyone. The moment they get on scene, they can have a drone in the air in seconds.”
The Baton Rouge Police Department aims to expand its drone unit by training more officers to obtain drone licenses. This will allow for faster arrests and help keep the city of Baton Rouge safe. Drones offer a safer and more efficient way of apprehending suspects, providing officers with an aerial perspective and the ability to respond quickly in different situations. By utilizing drone technology, the department hopes to improve law enforcement operations and better protect the community.
