Sandy Police expands drone program in resolving SWAT situations

Dec 12, 2024, 4:30 PM | Updated: 6:58 pm

SANDY — They are increasingly becoming a valuable tool for looking for missing people, reconstructing crime scenes, and tracking suspects.

Drones are growing in numbers in local police departments, playing an important role for SWAT teams, as officers say was shown by a case this week.

“A couple of nights ago we did have a male who had barricaded himself inside of a residence here,” Sandy Police Sgt. Greg Moffitt said.

“One of the tactics that was used was to use that drone. With a search warrant in hand, we were able to make an entry point into the house and we flew a drone in there and we used that drone to help look for that suspect.”

“A couple of nights ago we did have a male who had barricaded himself inside of a residence here,” Sandy Police Sgt. Greg Moffitt said.

According to officers, the operator used the drone to clear the house.

“A thermal camera was then utilized to locate the suspect inside the home,” Moffitt said. “We still have to go in and make sure, but we can get a really good preliminary clearing of the house by utilizing this as a tool.”

In previous years, Moffitt said officers would have possibly had to use a robot—which holds its own limitations—or enter the residence themselves often at their own hazard.

He questioned whether a drone may have even made a difference in the circumstance where he was shot during a SWAT operation in September 2021.

At the time, Moffitt was the shield operator and was first inside an apartment when he was met with gunfire.

“I don’t know that it would have changed my circumstance—maybe,” Moffitt said. “Had we utilized maybe some different tactics, we may have come to a different resolution. I don’t know.”

Moffitt said the department now aims to have a drone operator available on each shift and a handful of officers have been trained to fly in close spaces.

One of those officers, Detective Michael Yoakum, demonstrated Thursday how he utilizes a drone to clear a building during SWAT operations.

“(I am) just kind of getting the team a feel of what I can see, what they’re going to be going into,” Yoakum said as he used a video game-like controller to maneuver the drone.

He said drones have proven to be a vital tool in SWAT settings.

“We’re able to go inside a house, you know, without exposing our officers or SWAT operators to any kind of danger that is unknown,” Yoakum said.

Moffitt said the department has continued to expand its drone assets in recent months, including with a program the city has called “drone first-responder.”

“As a city, we’ve now purchased a larger drone,” Moffitt said. “That drone can be operated remotely. Most of our pilots on patrol are flying what’s called line-of-site. We do have a federal waiver that allows us to fly a separate drone that we have located centrally within the city. We share that with the fire department as well and we can launch that drone remotely and help respond to calls and give some overview.”

Officer Ryan Johnson, another drone operator in the department, said the devices have been incredibly valuable.

“If we can send a drone ahead of us instead of sending one of us first to get an idea of what’s going on, honestly that helps us significantly,” Johnson said. “If we have to build a plan around something—develop a tactical plan if we need to—it gives us the advantage on a lot of things.”

KSL 5 TV Live

Follow @kslsports...

KSL Sports

Bronny James Gifts BYU WR JoJo Phillips Signed Game Jersey

Bronny James reunited with his former high school teammate JoJo Phillips and gifted the BYU wide receiver a signed game jersey.

2 hours ago

Follow @kslsports...

KSL Sports

Luka Doncic Carves Time To Sign Autographs For Fans In Utah

Luka Doncic made time on Wednesday to sign autographs for his fans in Utah as the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Jazz.

3 hours ago

...

Alex Cabrero and Keira Fairmont, KSL TV

Italian Curling Hopeful Aims for 2026 Winter Olympics in Historic Cortina Venue

With the Winter Olympics just a year away, the countdown holds special significance for one Italian athlete.

3 hours ago

Fifty-five percent of us replace our smartphones every two to three years according to tech website...

Matt Gephardt and Sloan Schrage

Don’t replace your phone when repair can save you hundreds of dollars

55% of us replace our smartphones every two to three years according to tech website, SlashGear. But for many users, it’s an unnecessary upgrade.

3 hours ago

Follow @kslsports...

KSL Sports

Jazz Get Revenge Over Doncic, Lakers 131-119

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz sent Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers into the All-Star break with a 131-119 loss. Lauri Markkanen led all scorers with 32 points while the Lakers were led by Rui Hachimura who scored 19. Game Blog: Jazz Blowout Lakers In Salt Lake City Jazz Guards Stuff Stat […]

3 hours ago

A new bill being debated this legislative session could provide hundreds of more high school kids w...

Dan Rascon

New Utah bill could provide technical education to hundreds more high school students

A new bill being debated this legislative session could open the door for hundreds of more high school kids to technical careers—before they graduate.

3 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

luxury living room with a classic white sofa and sofa, interior design...

Lighting Design

Revisiting home lighting trends for 2025

Looking for inspiration to revamp your home lighting? This article outlines some of the emerging lighting trends for 2025.

holiday gift basket with blue tissue paper and gingerbread cookies...

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe

Holiday hacks for a stress-free season

Get more out of your time with family and loved ones over the holidays by following these tips for a stress-free season.

2 computer techs in a computer shop holding up a computer server with the "hang loose" sign...

PC Laptops

A comprehensive guide to choosing the right computer

With these tips, choosing the right computer that fits your needs and your budget will be easier than ever.

crowds of people in a German style Christmas market...

This Is The Place Heritage Park

Celebrate Christkindlmarket at This Is The Place Heritage Park!

The Christkindlmarket is an annual holiday celebration influenced by German traditions and generous giving.

Image of pretty woman walking in snowy mountains. Portrait of female wearing warm winter earmuff, r...

Lighting Design

Brighten your mood this winter with these lighting tricks

Read our lighting tips on how to brighten your mood in the winter if you are experiencing seasonal affective disorder.

A kitchen with a washer and dryer and a refrigerator...

Appliance Man

Appliance Man: a trusted name in Utah’s home appliance industry

Despite many recent closures of local appliance stores, Appliance Man remains Utah's trusted home appliance business and is here to stay.

Sandy Police expands drone program in resolving SWAT situations