How drones are stopping 'chicken sandwiches' and tools from entering Fulton County Jail
New drone tech to stop jail contraband flights
Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat is deploying a new drone program to intercept illegal contraband and respond to jail emergencies in real-time.
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office is deploying a new drone-as-first-responder program to combat a surge in contraband and improve safety at the Rice Street jail.
Drones to act as first responders at Fulton County Jail
What we know:
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office is using a new drone tool to monitor the jail in real time and intercept illegal activity. The drone is positioned on the roof of the building and can respond to emergencies, such as fires, medical issues, or breached windows, in seconds, which is significantly faster than a manual response by deputies. Sheriff Patrick Labat stated that nearly 300 unauthorized drones were spotted around the jail in the first half of last year alone. To operate the new technology, five to six employees have been trained and are FAA-certified.
What we don't know:
It is currently unclear how many drones are included in the initial pilot fleet or the specific timeline for when the program will move beyond the pilot phase. Officials have not yet released data on how many successful interceptions have occurred since the devices were positioned on the roof.
‘Bane of our existence’: Sheriff describes contraband battle
What they're saying:
"This use of technology is arguably what every jail should be looking at," said Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley. "The drone is positioned on the roof of the building, when something happens, what traditionally might have taken minutes for a deputy to respond. A drone can now be there in seconds. That drone has video and audio to relay what is happening."
Sheriff Patrick Labat emphasized the uniqueness of the program, stating, "It is a first that we know of in the country, in the nation when it comes to jail and drones being a first responder." Regarding the items smuggled into the facility, Labat said, "This has been certainly the bane of some of our existence. We have had everything from chicken sandwiches to cigarettes to tools to take the jail apart."
Fulton sheriff unveils new security tech
Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat says he has a new tool that will help him stop contraband from getting into the Rice Street jail. Aungelique Proctor reporting.
Contraband by the numbers
By the numbers:
- 75%: The amount of contraband the sheriff says enters the jail via unauthorized drones.
- 300: The approximate number of unauthorized drones spotted near the jail in the first half of last year.
- 5 to 6: The number of sheriff's office employees currently FAA-certified to fly the new drones.
- $0: The cost to taxpayers for this pilot program.