Pickens County deputies credit drones for fast saves and safer policing

The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina is proving how valuable drones have become for everyday policing. Last Saturday, November 15, deputies were called to search for a missing young man. Sergeant Reed Kent arrived on scene, launched his drone, and within minutes spotted the individual using thermal imaging.

Kent guided ground units straight to the location. The man was brought safely out of the woods and reunited with his family.

As WSPA reports, this is exactly the kind of result Sheriff Tommy Blankenship says the department hoped for when it launched its drone program three years ago. The idea was simple. Give deputies a reliable eye in the sky that works day or night, in open areas or dense forest, and during both emergencies and routine calls.

Since then, the Sheriff’s Office says the drone unit has delivered results again and again. Search and rescue calls are faster. Dangerous scenes are easier to monitor. And deputies can observe suspects without rushing into risky positions.

Blankenship said the best part is how often drones help deescalate tense situations. Suspects hiding in the woods or running from deputies are spotted early, which allows officers to surround the area calmly instead of sprinting into blind corners. Many arrests now end peacefully because the drone removes the unknowns.

The drone that keeps deputies a step ahead

Pickens County currently flies the Autel Robotics EVO II Dual 640T, a rugged aircraft designed for the kind of work deputies do every day. The drone carries two powerful cameras. A 50 megapixel visual camera for high detail images and videos. And a 640 by 512 thermal camera that picks up heat signatures even in darkness or thick vegetation.

The thermal system uses a 13mm lens and records at 30 Hz, which helps deputies track movement smoothly. The drone also supports a 16x digital zoom with 4x lossless zoom. This lets the pilot stay far away from danger while still getting a clear view of the target.

Kent said the thermal image on the V3 version of the camera shows stronger contrast and finer detail. That makes it easier to spot people, footprints, or discarded objects.

The drone also stands up to tough conditions. It works in temperatures from 14 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit and can fly in winds up to 39 miles per hour. Those features matter in South Carolina, where thick forests, uneven terrain, and sudden weather changes make traditional search methods slow.

Drones also help the forensics team. Kent said aerial images often reveal details that ground level photography misses. Overhead photos give investigators a clean view of vehicle paths, footprints, or layout changes. The aerial documentation is faster too, which helps clear scenes sooner.

When a suspect runs, deputies combine the drone with a K9 team. The dog follows the scent on the ground. The drone watches from above. This pairing gives deputies two angles of information at the same time. Blankenship said this has already resulted in more successful captures and fewer risky confrontations.

With the program growing, the Sheriff’s Office plans to upgrade its fleet. Blankenship said they are looking at drones from Skydio, which already supplies the agency with body cameras and tasers. The goal is to give deputies smarter aircraft with improved autonomy and obstacle sensing for tight spaces.

A tool that changes how police respond

The Pickens County team says drones have become as essential as radios or patrol vehicles. In many situations they shorten response time and improve safety for everyone involved.

The public benefits from quicker searches and fewer instances where force is needed. Deputies benefit from safer positioning. And suspects benefit because officers can take a measured approach instead of rushing into the unknown.

Drone programs like this one are becoming common across the United States as agencies see how much information a small aircraft can provide.

DroneXL’s Take

Pickens County is a great example of how drones keep changing modern police work. The Autel 640T gives deputies real advantages with thermal imaging and long range visibility. And the decision to consider Skydio shows the department wants even smarter tools. This is the direction many law enforcement teams are heading toward. A reliable eye in the sky that makes dangerous calls safer and search operations faster.

Photo credit: Pickens County Sheriff’s Office (SC)