Auburn Police Department Drone Unit

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The Auburn Police Department Drone Unit utilizes the advantages of aerial drone capabilities in many various situations. The Drone Unit began in 2019 and continues to grow as the use of drones in law enforcement evolves. Not only is the unit used to assist law enforcement within Auburn, it is also utilized through the regional SWAT team, CEMLEC. 

The Drone Unit is currently made up of two trained and licensed remote pilots, Officer Matthew Laskes and Officer Randy McCarthy, who are on call 24hrs a day, and report directly to Lieutenant Kenneth Charlton. 

The Auburn Police Department Drone Unit is most commonly utilized for

• Search and rescue missions
• Accident reconstruction
• Crime scene surveying
• Overwatch of high threat events
• Area mapping and planning
• SWAT tactical services
• Public safety
• Picture taking

In 2022, the Auburn Police Department Drone Unit responded to 12 calls for service that mainly included search and rescue missions and assisting crash reconstruction with scene documentation. 

Our 2022 missions were highlighted by the request on May 14th by the City of Worcester to provide aerial support to Local, State, and Federal Law Enforcement and Fire agencies at the complex scene of a quadruple fatal fire.