Sheriff’s department expanding drone program
County Sheriff Todd Brackett received approval for three drones Sept. 6 to bolster the department’s program. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
County Sheriff Todd Brackett received approval for three drones Sept. 6 to bolster the department’s program. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department is buying three new drones for its aerial program. On Sept. 6, commissioners approved using drug forfeiture funds to buy the new drones. Sheriff Todd Brackett reported the forfeiture account had $3,474.84 available.
“This will help us continue developing our program,” Brackett said. “The program uses technology which helps us map crime scenes and accident reconstructions in about a third of the time it would take otherwise,” he said.
In other action, Commissioner Mary Trescot asked Brackett about a recent active shooter training session in Jefferson. Last month, the sheriff’s department, as part of a newly formed County Emergency Task Force Team, simulated active shooter response scenarios at Jefferson Village School. The task force includes sheriff’s department, County Emergency Management Agency, local Emergency Medical Services and local fire department personnel. The team reacted to situations created by an emergency simulator. “I think it went well,” he said. “We role-played a number of scenarios in simulating how the rescue task force command center handled situations like an active shooter.”
Brackett reported the agencies participated in various individual emergency training sessions over the past year, but this was the team’s first. “We hope this is the first of many team exercises,” Brackett said.
He reported a personnel change. He announced reserve officer Sean Pfaler’s resignation. Previously, Pfaler served as the county’s school resource officer at Lincoln Academy. He later became a full-time teacher at Wiscasset Middle High School. He remained on the department’s roster as a part-time officer. “For the past two years, his National Guard unit has been deployed on the southern border. He is not available for reserve duty for the sheriff’s department, so he asked to have his name removed,” Brackett said.
Commissioners authorized a $3,988.54 payment to Midcoast Electronics for installing equipment in a new cruiser.
Commissioners meet next at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20 in the county courthouse.
