Officer Alyssa Amaral received the Blue Line Award after using a department drone to locate a missing person, a department Facebook post said. The post credited Amaral with deploying her drone, conducting a precise grid search and directing responding officers to the person’s location.
The post said Amaral used specialized training and technical skill to complete the search. It described her actions as reflecting the department’s mission of serving with wisdom, compassion and dedication to public safety.
Many law enforcement agencies now use unmanned aircraft systems, commonly called drones, for searches, accident reconstruction and scene assessment. Operators typically undergo specialized training to conduct systematic grid searches and to coordinate with ground units, which can speed responses and reduce risk to officers and the public.
The Blue Line Award is given to recognize outstanding police work and commitment to service, according to the department post. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
