May 7, 2015 VOLU M E 1 1 3 | I S S UE 27 | 7 5 ¢
DouglasCountyNewsPress.net D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
WHAT’S INSIDE
DOUGLAS COUNTY
Stone sentenced: Trial of man who led police on a 75-mile chase reaches its conclusion. See Page 6
Art seeks support: Greater Castle Rock Art Guild urges patrons to help save gallery. See Page 14
The drone owned by South Metro Fire cost $3,000 and is a Phantom 2 model. Photos by Mike DiFerdinando
Drone use on the way up
Lacrosse primer: As high school teams head to the playoffs, catch up on the basics. See Page 22
Law enforcement, first responders find numerous uses for new technology By Mike DiFerdinando and Christy Steadman
POSTAL ADDRESS
Staff writers
NEWS-PRESS
(ISSN 1067-425X) (USPS 567-060) OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Englewood, Colorado, and the towns of Castle Rock, Parker and Larkspur, the NewsPress is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media and additional mailing offices. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m.
Rick Young of the Castle Rock Fire Department flies a drone to investigate a house fire April 15.
POTENTIAL DRONE USES FOR THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE • Search and rescue
(floods, fires, tornadoes, blizzards, etc.)
• Crime scene/accident scene photography
• HAZMAT accidents
• Disaster & emergency response
• Wildfires/firefighting
GE T SO CI AL WITH U S
P LE A S E RECYC L E T H I S C OPY
As crews work to clean up the damage from an April house fire that claimed a man’s life, Rick Young pilots a remote-controlled drone that surveys the site. Young, a firefighter with the Castle Rock Fire Department Investigation Unit, looks for burn patterns and smoke stains — anything that may provide a clue to the cause of the blaze. “It allows us to get a 360-degree view of the site,” said Lt. Patrick Richardson of the Castle Rock Fire Department. “It takes pictures and HD video and really allows us to see the whole structure.” This drone is new — only its second time in use. It belongs to South Metro Fire Rescue, but is available to partnering agencies for investigative purposes. Use of drones for public services is an expanding trend throughout the country, state and Front Range. Law enforcement and first responders are excited about its potential to help investigations — from photographing accident scenes to search-and-rescue operations. “It’s the smart way to do law enforcement,” said Douglas County
Sheriff Tony Spurlock, whose department recently received its first drone. However, some citizens and legislators worry about how the new technology will intersect with privacy concerns.
The evolution
Law enforcement has a history of adopting cutting-edge technology, including many items common today, such as automobiles, motorcycles, telephones, radios and cameras. Until recently, drones were primarily used by the military. They were originally developed during the Cold War but did not see widespread military use until the start of the conflict in Afghanistan in 2001. But according to Kory Nelson, chair of Douglas County’s subcommittee on unmanned aerial vehicles, today’s technological revolution with drones is a direct result of the combination of the miniaturization and cost-reduction of digital cameras. Today, wireless video streaming and the increased reliability of aerial platforms for such cameras with gyroscope stability and GPS navigation tools make high-quality videography possible. “Law enforcement has been using helicopters and planes in the past,” Nelson said. “This is another extension of that technology.” Interest in the civilian world has grown to a point where there are Drones continues on Page 7
BY THE NUMBERS $3,000
$45
$10,000
400 feet
Cost of the DJI Phantom2 drones used by South Metro Fire Rescue and Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Cost of a basic drone
Cost of a higher-end drone
Elevation at which drones begin to interfere with air space and will draw the attention of aviation officials.