Pender County Sheriff’s Office hosts K-9, drone training exercise

BURGAW, NC (WWAY) — The Pender County Sheriff’s Office held a special training for drone operators and K-9 units on Tuesday. The training is meant to simulate a missing person situation. 

“This is our second time doing this. We’re trying to make it an annual event,” Sgt. Josiah Dorton with the sheriff’s office said. 

The training started two years ago as a way to prepare K-9 handlers and drone operators for collaboration in the field. 

“We recognize there was a need for drone operators and K-9s to work together more often. They don’t really do it much, so whenever they’re deployed out to the field to locate a missing individual, the communication isn’t there, so we brought this training out,” Dorton explained. 

During the exercise, drones and K-9s work together to locate a pre-planned target. The dogs use their sense of smell to locate the target, while the drones give an aerial view of the situation. Officers and deputies also use inert blue training guns for safety. 

Law enforcement from across our area and even out of state attended the training, hoping to learn more about Pender county’s K-9 and drone programs. 

Elijah Barnett traveled from Cobb County Police traveled from Georgia to attend the training. Barnett said the county outside of metro Atlanta is adding their own drone program. 

“We do quite a bit when it comes to locating missing children, suicidal subjects, as well as deployments on suspects that run from us,” Barnett said. “So, when we were given the opportunity to come to a drone integration K-9 class, I put in for it and was approved and I’m happy to be here.” 

In recent years, a number of law enforcement agencies are switching away from manned helicopters in favor of drones. 

Drone Operator Sgt. William Kittlaus said the Pender County Sheriff’s Office had their own helicopter program but made the switch for several reasons. 

“Drones are going to be a lot less expensive; they’re going to be a lot more portable, and it’s going to allow us to take the aircraft to the site and deploy immediately,” he explained.