Sheriff’s UAV program advances the department

A lot has changed over the years since Cpl. Bill Seymour was hired 28 years ago at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.

After serving in patrol, the K-9 unit, Search and Rescue, Swiftwater Dive Rescue, Narcotics, SWAT, Investigations and as a Tactical Flight Officer, he heads up the Sheriff’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Program.

Cpl. Seymour is responsible for a nine-person team and 12 drones. On Tuesday, he gave a presentation to the Rotary Club of Porterville.

“The department has advanced more in the last 24 months than it did in the last 24 years, thanks in large part to Sheriff Mike Boudreaux’s vision for the future which includes the latest technology to increase public safety,” he said.

The Sheriff is the first in the State to assign UAV’S at the patrol level. The Sheriff’s Office now has a UAV and Deputy Operator assigned to every Substation in the County. Much like a K9 and handler, this allows for the immediate response of a UAV when needed by the Sheriff’s Office or other local agencies anywhere in Tulare County.

“We’re the only UAV team that is able to deploy right away,” Cpl. Seymour said. “It’s been an incredible asset for us.”

At the Sheriff’s Office, drone usage is mission specific for finding lost children and at-risk adults, search and rescue operations as well as SWAT details, and crime scene photography. The UAV unit was developed to supplement patrol and is not used for surveillance.

Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said the UAV team is making a difference.

“Whether patrolling high in the skies with our aircraft or responding to emergency incidents with our UAV Units, the Sheriff’s Office is making a difference in securing the safety and improving the quality of life for everyone in Tulare County,” Sheriff Boudreaux said.