Unmanned Aerial System

The La Salle Police Department utilizes a DJI Matrice 30 (M30) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), commonly referred to as a drone, to enhance public safety, improve situational awareness, and support emergency response operations. The Matrice 30 is equipped with high-resolution visual and thermal imaging capabilities, allowing officers to safely assess incidents from the air while reducing risks to both first responders and the public.

The Department deploys the drone for a variety of authorized public safety purposes, including search and rescue operations, missing person investigations, disaster assessment, major traffic crash documentation, hazardous material incidents, crime scene mapping, officer safety, and other emergency situations where aerial observation can provide critical information.

All drone operations are conducted in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and the Illinois Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act. Illinois law generally prohibits law enforcement agencies from using drones to gather information except under specific circumstances authorized by statute, including emergencies involving imminent threats to life or safety, search warrants, crime scene investigations, traffic crash investigations, search and rescue missions, and other legally authorized public safety functions.

The Department is committed to protecting individual privacy and civil liberties. Drone operations are conducted only by trained and authorized personnel and are governed by departmental policy, state law, and constitutional protections. The Department does not use facial recognition technology from drones except where expressly authorized by Illinois law, and drones are never equipped with weapons. Information collected during drone operations is retained, disclosed, or destroyed in accordance with Illinois statutory requirements and Department policy.

The DJI Matrice 30 allows officers to quickly gather critical information, improve decision-making during emergencies, and enhance the safety of community members and first responders while maintaining transparency, accountability, and respect for the privacy rights of the public.