County officials watch the camera feed from a DJI Avata 2 drone that was being demonstrated. Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard was controlling the drone as it flew around outside. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Commission approved the purchase of a Lemur 2 inside drone for the sheriff’s department, which is beginning to use the technology more.

The commission approved the purchase of the Lemur 2 drone from Brinc, a U.S. company developing public safety tech.

Brinc officials were in the area in early August demonstrating their drones for commissioners and the sheriff’s department.

The previous demonstration showed the capabilities of drones which could enter a house with armed assailants and establish communication. The drone has a camera that can be used to guide it and give law enforcement a look into a room. It utilizes mapping technology and is able to let law enforcement know what kind of obstacles are in a room as well as other information. The drone can also break a window to gain access to a building or a car where a suspect is holed up.

If the drone is damaged, the company replaces it for free as part of the service.

A DJI Avata 2 drone was being demonstrated Monday outside the Wood County Sheriff’s Department at the Wood County Justice Center. Officials were watching a camera feed on the drone. Officials are looking at how to utilize the technology to help in searches and more. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

The system will cost the county $17,999.10 a year for five years. If the machine is damaged by a hostile suspect, it will be replaced. After a few years, they will get a new drone and be able to use the original as a backup.

Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard gave a demonstration of a DJI Avata 2 outside drone to county officials. The county recently purchased that one for around $1,500, officials said.

The drone was traveling around at 17.8 mph. and had a wide range to operate in. The outside drone was recently utilized in the search for a suspect on the run where law enforcement used it to search some rock areas and small caves. Some of the spots had drops over 70 feet. The drone allowed them to check the area without putting deputies directly in harm’s way.

The department had been utilizing throwbots that had limited range to move along a floor in a house or building where clothes laid about could create an obstacle to prevent it moving forward. A drone can just fly over that or fly up a stairwell.

If a suspect is found, then law enforcement knows where to concentrate their manpower.

The model being demonstrated Monday has a camera that is hooked up to a deputy’s cell phone. Woodyard was able to fly it from outside the sheriff’s department up to the flagpole at Fort Boreman Hill as well as some other points in the park. He was also able to fly it into one of the county maintenance garages and further into the building all while officials watched the camera feed on the cellphone.

Woodyard said the camera on this drone does not have night vision or thermal imaging.

The outside drone is being utilized to get their footing with drone use and it will also be utilized as a trainer when the Lemur 2 arrives, the sheriff said. The performance of these devices will help determine if the department will look into additional drones in the future.

They will also be able to use the Lemur 2 in conjunction with the DJI Avata 2.

“It is very impressive,” Commissioner Jimmy Colombo said.

It is a benefit for officer safety, Chief Deputy Mike Deem said.

“You don’t get any better, especially going into a house,” he said. “(Using a drone) is a force multiplier.

“You can check a big area really fast. It is safer and easier.”