By Sarah Roebuck
Police1
PORT JERVIS, N.Y. — A police officer who works as a dog rescuer when he’s off duty used a thermal imaging drone to reunite a family with their missing dog, Brooklyn News 12 reports.
The dog, named Levi, had been missing for four days. The family contacted Mike Coyne, who then used his drone to locate the dog. Levi was found in a wooded area with a paw injury, but he is now back home recovering, thanks to Coyne.
Coyne, a police drone pilot in Westchester and an avid animal lover, told Brooklyn News 12 he’s happy to help families when he’s off duty.
“A dog becomes a member of the family so when they go missing, it’s like you’re losing one of your children,” Coyne told Brooklyn News 12. “The reunion is that happy moment that we are all looking to achieve!”
Coyne said he’s helped more than 50 families since last year with his service, Heatseeker Drone Services.
In this video, Gordon Graham discusses how drones can be used as effective tools in various policing tasks without compromising the principles of community engagement. Whether you’re part of a rural or urban law enforcement agency, discover how these technologies can be tailored to meet your community’s unique needs.