http://www.myfoxboston.com/clip/11746812/local-police-department-using-drones-to-get-upper-hand-on-finding-criminals

ATTLEBORO, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) — In Attleboro, police will soon take to the skies. The city has not purchased a helicopter, but it is using new technology to help keep its citizens safe.

Chief Kyle Heagney said buying drones are less expensive than buying a helicopter. He recently bought two of them, for less than $6,000, and is training five officers to use them. The money for the drones came from drug forfeiture money, police say, but haven’t hit the skies yet.

“It will not replace police officers, it will enhance our search capabilities and certainly allow us one day to save a life,” Heagney said.

The drones are guided by GPS technology and feature hi-definition cameras. They are easy to fly and produce highly detailed quality images.

Help Incorporated, a Plainville security company and Drone UAV Academy of Foxboro are both helping Attleboro police set up what will be their own flight wing.

Craig Cooley from Help Inc. said they give you a “birds eye view.”

“It’s literally a whole different perspective when you are looking at things from above,” he said.

And Attleboro’s police chief said he is sensitive to privacy issues and will only use the drones for search and rescue efforts or to keep one of his officers safe in a dangerous situation. And he’s certain that other departments will soon start to follow suit.