Springfield Township police are utilizing drones to aid in catching thieves, resulting in over 20 arrests in the past year alone. This is a significant increase from the three arrests per year the department was making prior to implementing the drone program.

Drone Program Success

Chief Chris Niehaus stated that the drones have been instrumental in making arrests that may not have been possible without the technology. Officer William Yeager, one of the department’s drone pilots, was involved in the arrest of a felon who had stolen a gun from a car in Springfield Township.

In a recent incident, Yeager’s drone skills helped catch a man identified as Bret Kersey, who was stealing catalytic converters from cars in Woodlawn. The drone allowed police to track Kersey’s movements and ultimately led to his arrest. Another arrest was made on Tuesday when a Springfield Township officer used a drone to spot a man checking car doors, resulting in the arrest of Jameal Plair.

The department currently has eight drone pilots and is training five more. The success of the drone program has been attributed to the ability to respond quickly and effectively to situations, thanks to the technology.

Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.