According to an article by DroneXL:
A late-night search in southern Ohio ended safely thanks to a police drone and a program that has been in place longer than many people realize. As the Scioto Post reports, on December 28, just before 11 pm, Chillicothe Police were dispatched to assist the Ross County Sheriff’s Office near Belleview Avenue and Plyleys Lane, where a hiker had become separated from her group and lost contact.
What made the response notable is that this was not an experimental or newly launched drone effort. The Chillicothe Police Department’s UAV program began back in July 2019, giving officers years of operational experience by the time this call came in. That maturity matters when decisions must be made quickly, especially in bad weather and low visibility.
The missing hiker was a 61-year-old woman with known medical conditions, increasing the urgency of the search as wind and nighttime conditions set in.
Officer Cody Moore deployed a police drone despite sustained winds around 20 miles per hour and gusts approaching 30. The drone offered reliable thermal imaging, stable flight performance in wind, and enough endurance to scan large areas quickly. Those strengths were on display during this search, allowing the operator to cover ground that would have taken officers far longer to reach on foot.
From the air, the drone detected the woman about a mile from the initial search area. She was off the marked trail and appeared to be struggling to walk, relying on hiking sticks for support.
Once the drone located her position, Officer Moore relayed precise location details to Ross County deputies on the ground. Deputies were able to reach the woman, escort her back to the parking lot near the Earthworks area, and reunite her with her family. Authorities later confirmed she was unharmed.
The incident highlights how aerial thermal imaging compresses search timelines, turning what could become a prolonged overnight operation into a controlled and efficient response.
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Be sure to visit the BWU Technology Partnerships Initiative website to learn more about how our NEOFIX program drives economic growth, promotes policy and infrastructure to improve drone safety and efficiency in various industries, and ensures that drone technology is being used responsibly.