Ottawa County, MI (WGHN) – The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office is launching a new technology initiative aimed at getting emergency help to people faster.
Project B.E.A.C.O.N. would create a Real-Time Information Center using drones, security cameras and other technology.Sheriff Eric DeBoer says the goal is to make deputies more efficient without adding more staff.
A major part of the project would use drones as first responders. The sheriff’s office says traditional responses along beaches and sand dunes can take more than 10 minutes. The drones are designed to arrive two to five times faster than ground units.
During a demonstration at Holland State Park, a drone located a missing swimmer and dropped a life jacket. Other demonstrations showed how the technology could be used during school emergencies and hazardous-materials incidents.The Real-Time Information Center would also provide information from participating schools and critical infrastructure across the county.
The sheriff’s office says the system would only be used for significant incidents requiring a law enforcement response, with privacy protections built into the program.
The department is seeking three million dollars over the next 10 years to fund the project. That would include four drones positioned along the lakeshore and technology to help businesses and law enforcement identify organized retail crime.
B.E.A.C.O.N. stands for Business, Education, Agriculture and Community Operational Network.
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