CIBOLO, Texas — Drones are making it easier and safer for officers to respond to certain calls, according to the Cibolo Police Department.
Dramatic new video shows officers chasing and arresting a burglary suspect. It happened just after 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 31. Police say a 37-year-old man broke into a vehicle near Everyday Way, but when officers arrived, the suspect ran into an open field. It was pitch black, but a law enforcement drone captured the incident.
“Being able to pick up that heat signature through the drone, we are able to find out exactly where individuals are and how many there are,” said Cibolo Police Officer Matt Schima.
Two officers were able to catch up with the burglary suspect within minutes, Officer Schima says. Narciso Rojo Jr. was taken into custody without incident.
Officer Schima says drones help deter crime and mitigate some of the dangers for law enforcement.
“When you’re walking into a field at night, you could be walking right by somebody," he said. "They could be next to you, wanting to do harm; whether it’s being armed or just wanting to fight. We wish we had hundreds of officers here at the Cibolo Police Department, but we don’t. So, to be able to search a big field like that would take several of us. With this technology, we were able to put that drone in the air and find that individual quickly.”
Cibolo police have been using drones for the past five years.
“About a year or two ago, we had a situation where we had a barricaded subject,” said Officer Schima. “We were able to fly the drone inside the house, set it down and watch that subject remotely. It was very helpful to have a safe environment because we were able to see if they were armed, and let them know we were there. We have also assisted the fire department as they look for hotspots on structure fires and brush fires. [Drones] are also good for watching over parades."