CIBOLO, Texas – With his head angled skyward and a remote control in his hands, Lt. Bryan Hugghins almost looks like a child testing out a new toy. However, the investigator with the Cibolo Police Department said the device that hovered high above his head one recent morning could prove to be a valuable tool when it comes to saving lives.
So far, Hugghins is the only officer within the department who is licensed to use the unmanned aircraft system, more commonly known as a drone.
“There’s a lot of capabilities that the drone can bring to this department,” Hugghins said. “It’s just a matter of how we are going to implement it.”
The department hasn’t adopted the use of the mini flying machines just yet. Instead, Hugghins, who considers himself more of a hobbyist, is engaged in an unofficial pilot program for the department, putting the remote controlled aircraft to use as often as possible. He recently used it to fly over a wildfire training session involving Cibolo firefighters.
Hugghins also had a chance to help New Braunfels firefighters by using the drone, which is equipped with a high quality camera, to record a mock chemical leak.
“(The fire chief) was able to see it from a whole new angle,” Hugghins said.
Earlier this month, Hugghins put his drone to work in a real-life race against the clock. He assisted rescuers who were searching Santa Clara creek for a woman who had been swept away in her car. The drone gave them an immediate overhead view of the area.
“For us, it's a lot faster out here than it is waiting for a helicopter coming from San Antonio or Austin,” Hugghins said. "If I can get to the scene, I can be up in the air in one or two minutes."
Even with that speed, rescuers didn’t find the woman in time. They later pulled her body from her submerged vehicle. Still, Hugghins said he has high hopes for the use of drones in law enforcement.
It appears the Cibolo Police Department may be one of the first to put them in the air in this capacity. Although the San Antonio Police Department has been discussing the idea, no decisions have been made yet regarding the type of device that may be purchased or the timeline for when that might happen.
A spokeswoman for the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office said that agency does not have drones and had not made any plans to get them.
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