Bartlett police buy two drones

The Bartlett Police Department recently purchased a DJI Matrice 210 and a DJI Mavic Pro small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) to enhance its mission of protecting lives and property when other means and resources are not available or are less effective.

This purchase was fully funded from seized drug asset forfeiture funds and did not utilize any taxpayer dollars, according to a news release. The DJI Matrice 210 is a state-of-the art sUAS equipped with infrared and thermal camera technology and a high definition 30x optical zoom camera.

The DJI Mavic Pro is a smaller sUAS equipped with a high-definition camera that will allow the department to quickly deploy it outdoors or in a close quarter setting.

Bartlett police said the department will strictly adhere to privacy laws such as the Illinois Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act and the safety operating procedures established by the FAA when deploying sUAS equipment.