Ocean City PD Employs Drones in Water Rescue Aid

The Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) is adding remote-controlled drones to its arsenal of safety measures at the beach. The drones are so powerful that they can drop a flotation device to a swimmer in distress.

The OCPD's UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) Unit can place a member of the department in one area and quickly launch a drone to assist a swimmer, according to to the Ocean City Sentinel.

Ptl. Brandon Smith flew the drone using a remote control over the 12th Street Ocean City Beach Patrol (OCBP) headquarters and into the ocean. He dropped a flotation device to Lt. Bob Reichanek, who stood in as a swimmer in distress for the test.

OCPD Lt. Andrew Shaw headed to him on a rescue board and brought Reichanek to shore.

“During the shoulder season when the guards are limited, the response time would be so much faster,” Reichanek said to the Ocean City Sentintel about the use of the drones.

OCPD Lt. Mark Pancoast, who oversees the UAS unit, cautioned that “We're not here to take anybody's job. We're looking to preserve that life, to give them the extra time they need to have the rescuers get out there and pull them in.”

The UAS Unit's two drones are fitted with multiple cameras that include wide-angle fixed lenses, a moveable wide-angle lens, and a 30x zoom and thermal imaging capabilities. 

Police also say they'll use the two OCPD drones to monitor situations that may require intervention on the boardwalk and track down suspects.