The Somerset Police Department will soon have an extra set of eyes in the sky.
According to the FAA, it’s the first law enforcement agency in Kentucky to receive federal approval to fly an unmanned aircraft.
Captain Shannon Smith said it should not be confused with a military-type drone.
"It's not a spy plane as some people have called it," Smith told WKU Public Radio. "It's designed as an aerial photography platform and that's exactly how we intend to put it into play."
The drone will supplement the department’s existing gyroplane. Smith says the un-manned aircraft will be especially helpful in search and rescues. It could also be used in criminal investigations to gather evidence, though police would still need to obtain search warrants.
The aircraft is expected to be off the ground by the end of summer.
