Merrimac Police Drone Locates Missing 8-Year-Old in Massachusetts Woods Within an Hour

An 8-year-old boy who walked away from his home in Merrimac, Massachusetts, was safely located within 72 minutes Thursday morning thanks to the department’s Drone Unit. Officer William David operated the drone that spotted the child in a wooded area behind his home, demonstrating how small-town police departments are using drone technology to save lives in situations that once required expensive helicopter deployments or hours-long ground searches.

The successful rescue adds to a growing body of evidence showing that drone programs deliver measurable returns on investment for public safety agencies. For drone professionals and operators, this incident reinforces the technology’s proven value in search and rescue operations, particularly as legislators in Massachusetts and other states debate restrictive drone legislation that could limit these life-saving capabilities.

Missing Child Search Triggers Multi-Agency Response

The Merrimac Police Department received notification at 8:16 a.m. Thursday that an 8-year-old boy had walked away from his home on West Main Street. When an immediate search of the boy’s home and surrounding area turned up nothing, police activated the department’s Drone Unit and requested assistance from multiple law enforcement agencies.

The response included Merrimac Fire, the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council K-9 Unit, Drone Unit, and Incident Command Team, along with Amesbury Police, State Police, the State Police Air Wing, and the Essex County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit. The coordinated ground and aerial search covered challenging wooded terrain behind the boy’s residence.

Drone Operator Guides K-9 Units to Child’s Location

At approximately 9:28 a.m., Officer William David located the 8-year-old while operating the Merrimac Police Department’s drone over the wooded area. David immediately radioed K-9 units on the ground and guided them to the boy’s precise location in the woods. The child was found wet but uninjured and was safely returned home by police.

The 72-minute response time from initial report to successful location demonstrates the speed advantage drones provide in search operations. Traditional ground searches in densely wooded areas can take hours or even days, particularly when searching for a child who may not respond to calls or could be hidden by vegetation.

Police Chief Credits Drone Investment for Successful Outcome

Merrimac Police Chief Eric Shears directly connected the department’s drone investment to the rescue’s success.

“This shows exactly why we invested in creating a Drone Unit for the Merrimac Police Department,” Chief Shears said. “We were able to quickly deploy our drone, and it ultimately succeeded in locating this boy in a wooded and hard-to-reach location.”

Chief Shears also praised the multi-agency coordination. “I want to recognize the teamwork of the Drone Unit and all the officers on the ground. This was an excellent outcome.”

This marks the second time this year that Merrimac Police have successfully deployed drone technology in child rescue operations. In May 2025, the department used drones to assist in locating a 7-year-old boy who had wandered into a marsh, demonstrating consistent operational success with the technology.

Massachusetts Police Departments Embrace Drone Technology

The Merrimac rescue continues a pattern of successful police drone operations across Massachusetts in 2025. Just last week, Westwood Police Department used a DJI Matrice 4T thermal drone to quickly locate a missing and endangered person in densely wooded terrain. Earlier this year, Hingham Police used a drone to track down and arrest a 17-year-old suspect in a 60-car break-in spree.

The rapid adoption of drone technology by smaller Massachusetts departments reflects a national trend. Approximately 1,500 U.S. police departments now operate drone programs, representing a 150% increase since 2018. The technology has become accessible to departments serving small communities, with enterprise-grade drones and thermal imaging capabilities that were once limited to major metropolitan agencies with helicopter budgets.

Westwood, with a population of just over 13,000 residents, exemplifies this democratization of technology. Five years ago, only major metropolitan police departments could afford thermal drone capabilities. Today, small-town departments can conduct search and rescue operations that would have required expensive helicopter deployments or multi-hour ground searches in the past.

Growing Evidence for Drone as First Responder Programs

The Federal Aviation Administration reported 300 Drone as First Responder waiver submissions as of June 2025, with 214 approved under new streamlined processes. These programs allow drones to launch immediately upon 911 calls, often arriving on scene before ground units and providing critical situational awareness.

DFR programs across the United States have returned ground units to service in 25% of responses before officers arrive on scene, according to industry data. This frees up patrol units to respond to other calls while drones assess situations and guide responding officers with real-time aerial intelligence.

DroneXL’s Take

The Merrimac Police Department’s successful rescue highlights an important paradox in Massachusetts drone policy. While state legislators debate restrictive drone legislation that could limit law enforcement operations near schools, wildlife preserves, and other sensitive areas, local police departments are consistently proving that drones save lives.

This isn’t just another feel-good rescue story. It’s the second time this year Merrimac Police have deployed drones successfully in child rescue operations, demonstrating operational reliability and justifying the department’s technology investment. Chief Shears’ direct statement connecting the drone investment to the outcome provides exactly the kind of ROI documentation that helps other small departments make the case for drone programs in budget hearings.

We’ve covered similar successes across the country throughout 2025—from Parker Police in Colorado locating a missing child with a DJI Matrice drone to volunteer drone pilot Jeremy Harring-Spoerl finding a 4-year-old girl in a Wisconsin cornfield. The pattern is unmistakable: drones arrive faster than ground units, cover difficult terrain efficiently, and locate people who would otherwise remain missing for hours or days.

The timing matters. Massachusetts legislators are considering bills that would ban drone sales from Chinese manufacturers and restrict takeoffs and landings within 150 feet of various infrastructure. While national security concerns deserve serious consideration, lawmakers should also recognize that the vast majority of successful police drone operations—including this one—rely on accessible, proven technology that saves lives today.

Small departments like Merrimac can’t afford to ground their fleets while waiting years for domestic alternatives to reach feature parity with current systems. Every hour spent debating theoretical security threats is an hour when a child could be lost in the woods without the aerial search capabilities that located this 8-year-old in 72 minutes.

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