Page 70 - 2022 A Year in Review Final

suspects, Nineteen (19) Robbery suspects, Forty-Four (44) Assault Suspects, Fifty-

Four (54) Sexual Offense suspects. Seizure of (77) Seventy-Seven firearms,

numerous Ghost guns and ammunition directly or in support of other units.

Additional assistance to local Municipal Police departments, RISP HIDTA, Major

Crimes ATF, FBI, FBI Safe Streets, as well as U.S. Postal Inspectors and

Massachusetts State Police VFAS units.

Cranston Police Department Drone Program

The introduction of drone technology has brought significant advancements to the

field of law enforcement, and the Cranston Police Department is no exception. With

drones, police officers can now carry out search and rescue missions and

investigations from a safe distance minimizing chance of injury, or loss of life. In

2022, the department took a major step toward professionalizing drone use with

the certification of nine pilots under Part 107 of section 14 of the Code of Federal

Regulations. The unit is currently under the supervision of Captain Vincent

McAteer.

Our three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are equipped with state-of-the-art

technology. This technology has proved particularly useful in situations where it is

difficult for officers to access or observe wooded areas, or densely populated areas.

The benefits of drone technology for law enforcement are numerous. In addition to

enhancing situational awareness and minimizing the risk of injury to officers,

drones can also help reduce the response time in emergency situations. Moreover,

drones are cost-effective and can save valuable resources that would otherwise be

spent on traditional law enforcement methods. By embracing this new technology,

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Cranston Police Department Year in Review 2022