The Town of Linn, Wisconsin is a popular summer destination for Chicago residents due to its large lake. In the summer months, the town’s population swells almost threefold. While this is good news for the county’s tourism industry, it puts a strain on the town’s police department due to limited manpower. Always looking for innovative ways to ensure public safety, then-Chief James Bushey learned about a growing trend of using drone technology for police cases like drug busts during a training conference in 2016.
After discussing with a neighboring Wisconsin agency, he also discovered they were using drones to help locate lost children and felons on the run. This led Chief Bushey to invest in a DJI Inspire with DJI XT Thermal Camera powered by Flir.
Innovation Through Donations
With the help of county donations, the Town of Linn Police Department decided to invest in a customized Ford F150 patrol vehicle, outfitted with a drone deployment technology system to better serve its community year-round. The cost of this build was kept around the same as a regular patrol vehicle. The officers in the department had the skill set to design the specialized vehicle.
Reaping the Benefits of Innovative Drone Technology
While the Town of Linn Police Department has a 36 sq-mile jurisdiction, a large portion of this is occupied by the aforementioned lake.
Drones purchased through Adorama Business Solutions and the F150 deployment vehicle have enabled police officers to halve the amount of time and manpower needed to respond to situations.
Additionally, given how close neighboring police departments are, the Town of Linn is able to assist other departments when needed as all face similar manpower and equipment challenges.
Which Drone Equipment Does the Town of Linn Police Department Own?
The Town of Linn owns a selection of DJI drones, including:
- DJI Inspire with DJI XT Thermal Camera powered by Flir
- DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual
- DJI Spark
Elevating Officers to Drone Pilots
Initially officers from the Town of Linn attended some training courses at local colleges and a local police agency to learn to fly. While this was somewhat successful, officers were progressing at different stages and learning from different course material. Chief James Bushey and a colleague created an official FAA-approved curriculum.
All officers now follow this, earning certifications allowing them to fly drones. Chief Bushey is now one of five official drone flight trainers in the state of WI.
Connecting the Town of Linn Police Department with Adorama Business Solution for Drones
Prior to purchasing drones with Adorama, Chief Bushey had an existing relationship with one of Adorama’s Law Enforcement Specialists purchasing camera equipment.
Through consultative discussions with the Adorama Account Manager, Chief Bushey was able to choose the right equipment for his agency’s needs and budget.
This approach in helping clients achieve goals through technology is offered to all clients at Adorama Business Solutions.
Interested in Learning How to Fly a Drone?
Adorama Business Solutions has a full drone ecosystem. We can provide the training, insurance, hardware, and software you need to master any mission.
“I have greatly enjoyed working with the Adorama Business Solutions department over the past several years. My Account Manager has always been extremely pleasant to deal with and also helped take the guesswork, and a lot of the laborious steps out of purchasing equipment. She has great insight into building sensible kits at extremely affordable prices, which has greatly helped my officers work more efficiently, and effectively.”
— Chief James Bushey #7500, Town of Linn Police Department
About Adorama Business Solutions
As your organization plans for technology upgrades, Adorama Business Solutions can be your solutions partner. Receive expert guidance from decision making, through to installation, training and post-purchase support.
Adorama Business Solutions is a technology solutions partner that offers a range of product categories with consultative Account Managers that get you the right equipment for your requirements and budget.
With an in-house Technical Services division, even if you are not quite sure of the exact products you need, Adorama Business Solutions will help you build brand-agnostic solutions to achieve your goals.
Find out more about Adorama Business Solutions and request a free consultation.
