Copyright Joliet, IL Patch
Such a drone would beat officers on the ground to a crime scene. A nearby town already has one. ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst is working with other towns to get a fleet of autonomous drones that could be called to crime scenes without human control. Such a drone could beat officers on the ground and view criminals without their knowledge, officials said. Oak Brook is believed to be the first in the state to get one. Now, DuPage County towns are working to get drones strategically placed throughout the area, with the county expected to pay for them, Police Chief Michael McLean told the City Council on Monday. Elmhurst is hoping to host one. "Because realistically, if it wasn't in Elmhurst, we wouldn't have coverage in our town due to the size of our municipality," the chief said. Now, an officer takes a drone to a crime scene, puts it up in the air and pilots it. By contrast, McLean said, the autonomous drone would be a lot more efficient. Mayor Scott Levin asked whether the city plans to deploy the Grappler. That's a new technology that enables police to entangle a suspect's car with a net, catching the axle and causing the vehicle to stop. In the last year, the police department started using GPS darts during pursuits. "When people take off on high-speed chases, we have a liability issue," Levin said. "Oak Brook chases, we don't chase as much." McLean said the police department has decided against using the Grappler, saying officers have seen success with GPS darts and spike strips. "The important thing to note with the Grappler is that it basically destroys the car. That's something to keep in mind," the chief said. Also, the police need large cars to mount the equipment, he said. The department lacks such vehicles.
