Buchanan Co. first responders push back against bill that would restrict drones [Video]

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (KCRG) – Congress may restrict a popular drone used by law enforcement because it is produced by the Chinese company DJI Technologies.

Local emergency management and law enforcement officials say the drone is very effective and a ban would have an impact on public safety.

The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office has 4 drones, all of them DJI products.

“These drones are used for everything,” said Buchanan County Deputy Sheriff Cory Hartmann. “Everything” includes investigating traffic accidents, finding a missing person, or getting a bird’s eye view of a natural disaster or operation in the field.

Hartmann demonstrated to TV9 the thermal imaging feature of one of the drones.

“When we have that canopy—those trees and that canopy cover—it can be hard to see with just straightforward camera vision. That thermal imaging cuts through that canopy like it doesn’t exist,” he said.

Features like thermal imaging mean more intelligence …