APD Annual Reports - 2018 Annual Report | Page 36

Showcase Aviation Unit The Aviation Unit is a collateral duty work group comprised of a program manager, team leader, assistant team leader and 11 officers. The unit operates six DJI Mavic Pro quadcopters and completed 87 operational deployments last year. Deployments vary in nature and can include SWAT operations, covert assignments, traffic crash scenes, search for suspects and missing persons, and supports corporate promotional videography and photo assignments. In one deployment, unit personnel deployed to Waxahachie to assist on a SWAT call out. The unit has represented the department’s use of this technology across the country, including: • The 2018 Public Safety UAS Conference in Crozet, VA. • Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Video Quality in Public Safety Conference • DHS Video Analytics in Public Safety Conference • National Institute of Justice (NIJ) UAS Working Group • The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) • Texas Sheriff’s Association • Numerous North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) UAS Committees and working groups • State of Texas UAS Conference 36 | 2018 Annual Report