Temple Terrace, Fla — The Temple Terrace Police Department is introducing an innovative tool to help keep the community safe.

Its new drones will search for missing and endangered people, as well as track fleeing suspects. The drones, which have been in development for a year, will also help with investigating crime scenes and locating car accidents. Right now, the department has a commercial drone and smaller aircraft available.

The drones will also track hurricane and tornado damage, and may help identify illegal and unregistered drones that could be hazardous to the surrounding environment.

Corporal Tim Elmer recently passed the Federal Aviation Administration’s Remote Pilot Test, making him the first drone pilot for the City of Temple Terrace. Other officers are getting certified as well.

“We are excited to implement a program that will augment the abilities of our officers and our department. The use of drones is truly a force multiplier and will assist our agency in times of need,” said Corporal Elmer. “Using drones will provide us with critical on-scene information that will ultimately lead to keeping officers safer, protecting citizens’ lives and providing us with real time critical information during such operations as search and rescue; disaster response; missing persons; fugitive apprehensions; bomb calls and hazardous material observations; dangerous suspects; civil unrest; event management; SWAT deployments, and crime scene reconstruction,” said Temple Terrace Police Chief Ken Albano.

The department developed a General Order that will ensure all aspects of the drone program comply with State and Federal Law.