RBC Police Department Launches Drone Program

For Immediate Release: March 13, 2024
Contact: Jesse Vaughan, Chief Communications & Marketing Officer/jvaughan@rbc.edu

On March 11, the Richard Bland College of William & Mary (RBC) Department of Campus Safety & Police introduced its drone program. The office recently acquired the DJI Mavic 3T drone to bolster its operational capabilities—notably its emergency response.

The drone has impressive features: a 56x camera zoom, thermal imaging, a spotlight for night operations, as well as picture and video storage. In the short-term, the department plans to license three to four officers to operate the device.

“We are thrilled about our brand-new drone program,” said Thomas Travis, Director of Campus Safety & Chief of Police. “It will help us work more efficiently and give us unparalleled visibility to keep our campus and community safe.”

The drone will facilitate the following operations:

• Traffic monitoring: assess traffic flow, congestion, and aid in accident investigations
• Crowd monitoring: assist law enforcement in maintaining public safety and managing crowds more effectively
• Surveillance: offer aerial surveillance for public events, crime scenes, and areas of interest
• Emergency response: examine damage and provide crucial situational awareness to first responders
• Public relations and community engagement: capture footage for community events, safety demonstrations, and educational programs

 To learn more about the RBC Department of Campus Safety & Police, click here.