Drone Unit

In 2022 the York County Sheriff’s Office established a small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) program. 

These systems, more commonly known as drones, are an additional resource that can aid the Project Lifesaver Program as well as provide assistance to other law enforcement agencies. The Office of the Sheriff offers support for all municipalities within York County. 

The primary objective of this program is to provide low-level airborne reconnaissance of situations that would otherwise be impractical or unsafe for human observers.

The Office of the Sheriff currently has two (2) different aircraft in its fleet. They are outfitted with high-resolution cameras and thermal imaging cameras. These sensors prove to be useful in a variety of situations including searching for a missing person in a wooded area or over water, and event situational awareness. A Project Lifesaver Attachment, when available, will also be utilized on one of the drones to increase the search radius for clients enrolled in the program.

To maintain Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operating compliance, the Office of the Sheriff has established a policy to utilize our small unmanned aircraft systems in compliance with FAA Part 107 guidelines and in accordance with the Certificate of Authorization issued to this agency by the FAA.

The Office of the Sheriff currently has four (4) FAA licensed remote pilots and continues to develop the program in an effort to be even more responsive to the communities that we serve. 

To carry out this mission, the Office of the Sheriff must always be willing to leverage the benefits of new and expansive technologies. This will enable us to work in ways that are more effective, efficient, and safe for everyone.