(Estherville)--The Emmet County Sheriff’s Office has purchased two thermal imaging drones thanks to monetary support from the Estherville Chamber of Commerce and the Emmet County Community Foundation.

According to a Facebook post, drones have become an increasingly important and proven tool in modern law enforcement and emergency response. They give first responders an aerial perspective so they can deploy quickly and provide information that may be difficult or impossible to obtain from the ground. Public safety agencies now routinely use drones across the country for search and rescue, missing persons, emergency response, disaster operations, fires, traffic crashes, crime-scene documentation, and officer safety.

The Emmet County Sheriff’s Office intends to use this technology as a resource for the entire community. These drones can assist not only the sheriff’s office, but also other local emergency responders and public-safety partners when circumstances require an aerial response.