‘Seconds matter’ How Mount Pleasant police use drones to improve safety and efficiency From the Racine County police stories series Milana Doné Nov 4, 2025 Nov 4, 2025 Updated Mar 24, 2026 0 × Milana Doné The Mount Pleasant outdoor police drone can use both cameras and thermal imaging to locate subjects. Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save MOUNT PLEASANT — The Mount Pleasant Police Department has upgraded its drone program to facilitate speed and efficiency within the department.kAmx? =2E6 a_ac[ $A64ECF> 2?5 =@42= =2H 6?7@C46>6?E 286?4:6D 5:D4FDD65 E96 36?67:ED @7 5C@?6D[ :?4=F5:?8 BF:4<=J 2?5 677:4:6?E=J 4@?5F4E:?8 D62C49 2?5 C6D4F6[ =@42E:?8 >:DD:?8 A6CD@?D[ A9@E@8C2A9:?8 2?5 >2AA:?8 4C:>6 D46?6D[ AC@G:5:?8 D:EF2E:@?2= 2H2C6?6DD 5FC:?8 DA64:2= 6G6?ED 2?5 2:5:?8 :? E96 2AAC696?D:@? @7 DF3;64ED]k^Am Sgt. Dale Swart controls the Mount Pleasant Police Department’s outdoor drone in a missing person demonstration Wednesday. Milana Doné, kAm$A64ECF> 5@?2E65 S``[e__ E@ E96 56A2CE>6?E 62C=:6C E9:D J62C 7@C E96 AFC492D6 2 5C@?6 7@C @FE5@@C FD6]k^Am kAm%96 ?6H 5C@?6[ H9:49 C6A=246D 2 7:CDE\86?6C2E:@? >@56=[ 762EFC6D 2 H:56\2?8=6 2?5 K@@> 42>6C2[ 2D H6== 2D :?7C2C65 2?5 E96C>2= :>28:?8 42A23:=:E:6D]k^Am People are also reading… Proposal to let nonresidents vote in Omaha, Lincoln elections advances in auditor oversight bill ICE detains Kearney entrepreneur with deep Nebraska ties How to watch the Nebraska football spring game: Time, TV channel Nebraska spring football game live updates, score and highlights Where to watch the Nebraska football spring game: Time, TV channel Nebraska-Iowa basketball live updates, stats and highlights Suspect in triple killing may have participated in assault of sex offender, police say Nebraska softball triumphs over No. 7 UCLA in 4-1 victory How to watch Nebraska-Iowa basketball: Time, TV channel for Thursday State Patrol IDs mother found dead in Kearney County; 3 children injured in shooting Lincoln man accused of hitting officer with drumsticks in chaotic arrest 64-year-old man arrested in Lincoln for 1990 'Lovers' Lane Murders' in Texas Malmo Fire Department prepares to host 27th annual breakfast Lincoln City Council weighs winery rule changes, approves addition at The Mill Nebraska's Emmett Johnson receives national praise before NFL draft kAmsFC:?8 2 56>@?DEC2E:@? ~4E] ah[ r9:67 #@36CE q@ED49 4:E65 E96 5C@?6’D >2I:>F> DA665 @7 d` >A9]k^Am Mount Pleasant police chief Robert Botsch introduces the department’s drones before a demonstration at Mount Pleasant Village Hall Wednesday. Milana Doné, kAm“x? AF3=:4 D276EJ[ D64@?5D >2EE6C[” q@ED49 D2:5] “sC@?6D AC@G:56 @77:46CD E96 23:=:EJ E@ 86E :>>65:2E6 6J6D @? 2 AC@3=6> @C 4@?46C? 2?5 AC@G:56 :?DE2?E 7665324< E@ E96 @77:46CD]”k^Am kAm%96 56A2CE>6?E 2=D@ 92D EH@ :?5@@C 5C@?6D[ H9:49 H6C6 AFC492D65 @G6C E96 DF>>6C]k^AmkAm%96 5C@?6D 2C6 FD65 5FC:?8 DA64:2= 6G6?ED[ 7@C =@42E:?8 2 >:DD:?8 A6CD@? 2?5 7@C 4=62C:?8 3F:=5:?8D AC:@C E@ @77:46CD 6?E6C:?8]k^Am Sgt. Dale Swart demonstrates operation of the Mount Pleasant Police Department’s indoor drone Wednesday. Milana Doné photos, kAmsFC:?8 E96 56>@?DEC2E:@?[ E96 @FE5@@C 5C@?6 H2D 23=6 E@ 7:?5 2? 24E@C :? 2 ?62C3J 7:6=5 FD:?8 E96C>2= :>28:?8 56DA:E6 E96 A6CD@? 3=6?5:?8 :? H:E9 E96 E2== 8C2DD]k^Am kAmp? @77:46C 2E E96 A@=:46 56A2CE>6?E H2D 23=6 E@ D66 E96 :>286 7C@> E96 5C@?6 2?5 4@>>F?:42E6 H:E9 2? @77:46C 2?5 zh 23@FE E96 24E@C’D =@42E:@?]k^Am kAmp 92?57F= @7 |!!s @77:46CD 2C6 46CE:7:65 3J E96 u656C2= pG:2E:@? p5>:?:DEC2E:@? E@ @A6C2E6 E96 @FE5@@C 5C@?6 2?5 @E96CD 2C6 36:?8 EC2:?65] %96 56A2CE>6?E 9@A6D E@ E@ 92G6 2 5@K6? @77:46CD H9@ 2C6 upp 46CE:7:65]k^AmkAm%96 #24:?6 r@F?EJ $96C:77’D ~77:46 2?5 r2=65@?:2 !@=:46 s6A2CE>6?E 2=D@ 92G6 E96 D2>6 >@56= @7 @FE5@@C 5C@?6[ D@ E96 286?4:6D 42? H@C< E@86E96C]k^Am Indoor drones can be sent into a room or building to clear it before officers and K9 units enter the space. Milana Doné kAm“(96? J@FCD 4@>6D 5@H?[ :7 J@F 92G6 2 A2CE?6CD9:A H:E9 D@>63@5J 6=D6[ E96:CD 8@6D FA 2?5 J@F @G6C=2A[” q@ED49 D2:5] “(6 C646?E=J H@C<65 H:E9 r2=65@?:2 @? E92E H96C6 x <?6H @FCD 925 E@ 4@>6 5@H? D@ r2=65@?:2 AFE E96:CD FA 23@FE EH@ >:?FE6D 367@C6 @FCD 42>6 5@H?[ 2?5 H6 ?6G6C =@DE 4@G6C286]”k^Am kAmsC@?6D 7@C :?E6C:@C FD6 2C6 >F49 D>2==6C[ =:89E6C 2?5 5@ ?@E C6BF:C6 upp 46CE:7:42E:@?[ D@ >@C6 @77:46CD H:== 36 EC2:?65 E@ @A6C2E6 E96>]k^AmkAmsC@?6D 2C6 2? 6IE6?D:@? @7 E96 A@=:46[ >62?:?8 @77:46CD DE:== ?665 4@?D6?E @C 2 D62C49 H2CC2?E E@ D6?5 2 5C@?6 :?E@ 2 9@>6[ q@ED49 D2:5]k^Am kAm“&D:?8 5C@?6D E@ 6?E6C F?4=62C65[ 9:89\C:D< 2C62D 96=AD :56?E:7J 4@?462=65 E9C62ED :? 25G2?46 @7 A@=:46 zhD 2?5 @77:46CD 6?E6C:?8 E96 C@@>[ >:?:>:K:?8 C:D<[” q@ED49 D2:5] “q@EE@> =:?6i H6 42? 4@G6C >@C6 8C@F?5 7C@> E96 2:C E92? H6 42? H:E9 2? @77:46C @? 7@@E @C :? 2 42C] %9:D E649?@=@8J 96=AD FD E@ 36 72DE6C[ D>2CE6C 2?5 D276C[ H9:49 F=E:>2E6=J >2<6D FD 36EE6C]”k^Am In this Series Racine County police stories Updated Mar 24, 2026 Racine supervisors approve tentative union agreement for sheriff's deputies Updated Mar 24, 2026 Racine Police Department swears in eight officers, promotes five Updated Mar 27, 2026 Schmaling not seeking reelection as Racine County sheriff 17 updates Previous Next 0 Comments Locations Racine Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Mount Pleasant drone demonstration The Mount Pleasant outdoor police drone can use both cameras and thermal imaging to locate subjects. Recent stories by Racine Journal Times reporter Milana Doné Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio | All Of Our Podcasts Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video Katie Burger Mission Statement First Strategic Plan Workshop First Strategic Plan Workshop The 10 safest cities in the United States The 10 safest cities in the United States Project Hunger's 30th Annual Easter Basket Extravaganza Project Hunger's 30th Annual Easter Basket Extravaganza
Mount Pleasant drone demonstration The Mount Pleasant outdoor police drone can use both cameras and thermal imaging to locate subjects.
