The Formentera interior office reports that local police and the island’s fire department have enlisted a drone in a new surveillance and operations unit staffed by emergency responders. According to department chief Josep Marí, the unit, whose operators include four law enforcement officers and two members of the firefighting brigade, will develop “a multi-disciplinary approach to emergency response around tracking, surveillance and prevention”.
“The unit will complement efforts that have figured in emergency services’ remit for some time now”, said interior conseller Josep Marí. “Today, with the acquisition of a drone and six of our emergency responders receiving training, the team can operate 365 days a year.”
In addition to helping the fire crew pinpoint fires and mark out their perimeter, not to mention reinforcing firefighting operations, the drone will be integral to missing person searches and other emergency operations. For local police, it will aide enforcement of environmental and urban planning regulations, patrols of waterside itinerant vending and crowd reduction measures.
Training
Today was the last day of classes for the six emergency responders who took part in SQA Drones’ course on piloting drones. The local police and firefighters were joined by three participants from Santa Eulària’s police force and environment department. The sessions included four days of on-site training and fifty hours of theory. Two agents from the local Sant Josep force seized the opportunity to hone their skills in drone manoeuvres and share experience with their classmates.
16 July 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera
Urbanism and territory, Tourism and Economic activities
Urbanism and Territory planning
Infrastructures and services
Environment
Tourism planning and Economic activities
Agriculture
Mobility