Claiborne County has a new drone program

The Claiborne County Sheriff’s Department announced a new drone program on Tuesday.

Drones are quickly becoming commonplace and a necessary tool to use in the areas of public safety and crime prevention. These drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), can be used for search and rescue efforts, surveillance and crime scene analysis, among a wide range of other potential uses.

According to Police Chief Magazine, UAVs are currently being used by over 300 law enforcement agencies across 43 U.S. states.

The Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office mentions that the demonstrated need “must also be carefully balanced with navigating public opinion, federal, state & local laws, and the decision makers who may be hesitant or intimidated by implementing innovative technologies.”

The court of popular opinion may still be deliberating on the use of such technologies, but the trend is gaining a strong foothold.