Texas BBQ Joint

BBQ Catering

Don’t wait... Call Moose at 585-415-6069 to book your catering!!

bbqrochester.com

3160 West Ridge Road 227-6474 122 S Union St Spencerport 352-4227

Greece News May/June 2022 5 Greece Police New Drone Program Creates a Safer Community

by Tami Raco

Thanks to a COVID Relief Grant, the Town of Greece was able to obtain funding for the Greece Police Department (GPD), to launch an Emergency Response Drone Program. Three specialized police drones were purchased in late 2021. Officer Wild of GPD, took the necessary courses to became a certified Drone Pilot during the winter of 2022. According to Officer Wild, “Police drones are becoming increasingly more popular, but less than 20% of NYS police agencies have this type of technology.” In 2020, 347 law enforcement agencies in forty-three states were using drones to assist officers in the field. The number is growing, drones are proving to be a timely and cost effective tool that can help police agencies protect their communities.

Police drones can be used in a variety of settings to help fight crime, and to keep communities safe. With a quicker ‘real time’ response in vital situations, and the ability to keep officers safe by providing added situational awareness, drones have proven their effectiveness

Police agencies around the country are using drones for search and rescue, traffic accident reconstruction, investigations of crime scenes and active shooter type calls, as well as to assist the K9 unit, and local fire departments. According to Officer Wild, Greece Police Drone Team pilot, “Drones can help the Greece community with calls on the water like, abandoned water vessels, missing boaters, potential drownings, finding missing children, hikers and vulnerable adults.” With the use of the drones, the response time is much more efficient compared to traditional methods like police helicopters. Drones also significantly reduce the costs associated with search and rescue. The cost to bring in a Police Air Service helicopter can exceed $500 per hour. “Drones can be especially helpful in locating missing people in wooded areas,” said Wild. They are very efficient in accident scenes, giving a bird’s eye view and accident reconstruction using specialized software. This cuts down evidence collection time, and gets roads reopened sooner.

Monroe County Sheriff Department (MCSD), began a Drone Response Team in their Special Operations Police Bureau in 2019. They expanded in 2021 with two full time Drone Pilots. They have eight drones and have been successfully using them in search and rescue calls, fire calls and on crime scenes. Deputy Whiting of the MCSD Drone Response Team has been involved with many successful outcomes using drone technology. According to Whiting, “The drone helped locate a missing elderly person in Perinton much faster than we could of otherwise. The MCSD Drone Response Team is also used to assist fire districts. The Brockport Fire Department worked with the MCSD Drone Response Team during the Viking Way fire that took place last year. This winter, with the help of the MCSD Drone Team, stranded snowmobiles were guided safely off the canal after a person fell through the ice.”

Officer Wild pointed out that there could be some privacy concerns associated with the use of drones in law enforcement agencies. All drone use, including police drone use, is regulated by the FAA. Misconceptions lead to concerns and fear of the technology that greatly benefits community safety. There are general orders in police drone usage that protect citizens privacy. “The use is tightly regulated by the FAA, and there are strict policies and rules on how and where a police drone can be used,” Wild said.

Greece Police welcome the opportunity to communicate with the community about the drone program, and ensure citizens that police drones are used to help protect and serve.

Photo by Julia Mungenast

Provided photo

Bicentennial Celebration Items Available Online

The Greece Historical Society has a selection of mementos, with the Historical Society logo celebrating the Town’s 200th Bicentennial Anniversary, available for purchase. These items are available ONLY ONLINE, and are not on sale in the Museum Gift Shop.

Order men’s and women’s t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, pillows and mugs. All orders include FREE SHIPPING. Enter code: FREESHIP at checkout for free shipping. https://www.greecehistoricalsociety.shop/

Provided Information

6 Greece News May/June 2022 Sport Aviation Center Open House

Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 44 invites the Aviation Community and General Public to its Sport Aviation Center Open House on Sunday, June 12 from 10 AM to 4 PM. The Sport Aviation Center is located at Ledgedale Airpark (7G0), Brockport Airport, 44 Eisenhauer Drive, Brockport NY 14420.

Theme of the day is “Pathway Into Aviation.” Aircraft and activities will show the fun of building, restoring, and flying airplanes for their recreational and educational value. Baby Ace restoration, homebuilt, restored, and production aircraft will be on display. Classic car cruise-in parking, Family-friendly, free admission. Grilled food will be available for purchase. Provided Information

Greece News

1776 Hilton-Parma Corners Rd. Spencerport, NY 14559 Email: Info@westsidenewsny.com Phone: 585-352-3411 Fax: 585-352-4811

Westside News Inc., Publisher Advertising Lori Antonelli ext. 133 Rachael Blair ext. 139 Debbie Day ext. 131 Tami Raco ext. 129 Ben Albert 585-851-8092 Christine Anello 585-503-7224 Mary Lou Rockow ext. 134 Ellen Stevens ext. 130 Advertising Deadline June/July Issue: Tuesday, June 7, 2022 Production ext. 126 or 128 Vicki Caspersson, Karen Fien, Joanne Michielsen & Suzette Coleman Contributing Writers & Photographers Barbara Burke - Content Manager barbara.burke@westsidenewsny.com Karen Fien - Photographer Tami Raco - Writer Digital Marketing Director Gary Sajdak ext. 135 gary.sajdak@westsidenewsny.com

Advertiser Index

AireServ Heating & Air Conditioning BC Excavating Blue Barn Cidery Bob’s Pool

3 16 2 14

Brightly Farms Brodner Equipment Inc. Christie Carpets & Blinds

13 7 8 D. Ras Painting & Staining 22 D’Angelo’s Plumbing, Heating, Kitchens & Baths 9 Dominic Agostini, State Farm Insurance 15 EZ Tree Services 16 Foundations Unisex Salon 19 The Front Porch Ice Cream Shoppe 25 Hilton Family Dentistry 10 Home Safari Ltd. 22 JD Junk & Clean Out 19 Jim Sweet Contracting, LLC 16 Jim’s Ground 25 Kitchens by Countryside 28 Long Life Paving 16 Mike DiSanto Heating & Cooling 16 Oaks Construction 16 Oaks Dumpster Rental 16 RE/MAX Plus - Carolyn Stiffler 14 Robert Rohr, United Healthcare 2 Russo’s Pizza 26 & 27 Texas BBQ Joint 4 Tree & Yard Renovations 19 Waters Basement Services, Inc. 15