Baldwin Country traditionally relied on people on the ground in addition to helicopters to respond to crime scenes and secure public safety at events. Neighboring agencies were already using drones in their operations, so seeing their capabilities coupled with advancements in technology gave impetus for Baldwin County to invest in adding drones to its equipment line up.
Baldwin County: A Consultative Relationship with Adorama Business Solutions
Prior to working with Adorama Business Solutions, Lt. Daniel Steelman of Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office purchased camera and forensic equipment through Adorama. As with all B2B sales at Adorama, Lt. Steelman was assigned a dedicated Account Manager. In this case, the Account Manager specialized in Law Enforcement sales. Through discovery conversations Lt. Steelman, we discussed his agency’s requirements and potential cases uses for drones. These initial consultations allowed the Account Manager at Adorama to recommend the most appropriate equipment for the agency’s needs and budget.
Reaping the benefits of innovative technology with Adorama Business Solutions
Drone technology has enabled officers at Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office to respond to situations not possible with manpower alone. From capturing overhead images of crowds and roads to observing large areas of land or bodies of water, Baldwin County’s police department use of drones expands as technology evolves.
In addition, drones have increased officer safety and enable officers to respond to situations much quicker than they could do with people-power alone.
As Lt. Steelman continues to consult with his dedicated Account Manager at Adorama Business Solutions, new technology and potential case uses are uncovered to the benefit of the agency and Baldwin County residents.
Making Baldwin County safer with drones
Over the five years since Baldwin County first invested in drone equipment facilitated by Adorama Business Solutions, case uses have increased exponentially. Currently the agency uses drones for a range of circumstances including, but not limited to:
- Crime scene photography and documentation to capture images otherwise impossible.
- Surveillance planning and operations using zoom cameras that allow officers to stay out of sight.
- SWAT call outs that mean officers can capture images quickly and safely, reducing risk from dogs, traps and people.Internal shots of buildings so officers can see room layouts and detect any danger.
- Large scale events to monitor traffic congestion and maintain public safety.
- Search and rescue operations using FLIR to locate missing children, elderly people and others even in the dark.
Which drone equipment does Baldwin County own?
Baldwin County owns a selection of DJI drones, including:
- DJI Matrice 200 (DJI XT Thermal Camera powered by Flir and zoom cameras)
- DJI Inspire
- DJI Mavic Pro 2
- DJI Mavic Air
- DJI Spark
Elevating officers to drone pilots
Initially a fixed-wing pilot at the agency received an additional 40 hours of training to fly the drones. Additionally, other drone pilots were trained by going through 18 months of training to earn FAA certifications. Adorama can assist customers purchasing drones with training by connecting them to local agencies and training schools.
“Adorama provides excellent customer service for forensic supplies, photography equipment and drones. The Adorama forensic sales team provides technical information for products that we are considering purchasing, timely quotes, a great selection and efficient delivery of purchased items.”
– Lt. Daniel Steelman, Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, C.S.C.S.A.
Increase Efficiency and Safety with Adorama Business Solutions
As your organization considers or prepares to incorporate drone technology, its important to have all the technical and case use requirements to make implementation as smooth as possible. Adorama Business Solutions is a technology solutions partner that offers a range of product categories with consultative Account Managers that get you the right equipment for your requirements and budget.
With an in-house Technical Services division, even if you are not quite sure of the exact products you need, Adorama Business Solutions will help you build brand-agnostic solutions to achieve your goals.
Thinking of purchasing drones, camera, night-vision, infrared, forensics equipment and accessories? Contact Adorama Business Solutions Law Enforcement specialists to discuss your requirements and get more information on the right equipment suited to your needs.
