WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – It’s no secret technology is a driving force in just about everything we do from computers to phones and now drones.

“If we don’t change with technology we’re behind the curve and in the crime-fighting business being behind the curve is usually not good,” said Lt. Greg Willett, Wilmington Police Department.

Wilmington Police Chief Donnie Williams says two decades ago — helicopters were considered a huge breakthrough for law enforcement.

“I was a lieutenant, I was a young watch commander and I can remember being out on those calls and hearing that helicopter over our head,” said Chief Donny Williams, Wilmington Police Department.

Now the choppers require frequent, expensive maintenance. It’s tough to find qualified pilots and there are growing safety concerns. Especially after situations like last November when a SABLE helicopter had to make an emergency landing at Ogden Park.

“When I got that phone call it just really made me think about the program and should we continue to operate aircraft that are over 50 years old. If we had not sat that aircraft down and he would have tried to continue to the airport there’s a possibility that he would of had to crash land somewhere, “ said Williams.

But it wasn’t an easy decision to make.

“One of the most difficult parts of this decision was telling Chief Evangelous because Sable was his baby and it was his creation,” said Williams.

Chief Williams says the rise of drones is now taking policing to new heights.

“The drones were leapfrogging ahead of the swat team and we’ve actually used it in the field several times where we can put the drones ahead of our officers and keep them out of harm’s way,” said Williams.

Now with a regional drone team in place, the sky’s the limit.

“Who knows maybe ten years from now every patrol car will have a drone in the trunk of it. Some jurisdictions have received clearance from the FAA and they have drones that are pre-staged around their cities. And the drones are automatically launching and getting there before the initial officers get there,” said Williams.

We aren’t quite there yet but there are plans to expand the drone team and add rapid-response drone vehicles.

“So we would have monitors where the drones could feed back to the vehicles. We would have additional battery capacity in them, rapid charging, radio, and communications capabilities.”

And while the SABLE helicopters won’t totally be dismissed for future use– their long history is now being forever enshrined in the Wilmington Police Department’s museum.

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