“Aim High … Fly-Fight-Win” has been the official motto of the United States Air Force since 2010.

 

The phrase is on point for this branch of the military and a motivational tool for its leaders and personnel. The well-trained and brave members of the US Air Force serve their country through times of peace and conflict with bravery and dignity. They have earned the gratitude and admiration of our country.

 

But did you know the City of Bridgeport has an air force at its disposal? Obviously, on a much, much smaller scale, but still a vital component in protecting and serving our citizens.

 

Tim Curry, Director of the Office of Emergency Management for the City of Bridgeport, has developed a drone fleet right here in Bridgeport and trained a cadre of pilots to fly them. The current squadron consists of four drones, ranging from small to large, and three certified pilots.

 

The three current drone pilots include Tim Curry and two members of the Bridgeport Police Department. Several others from the Police, Fire, and Engineering Departments are preparing to become certified drone pilots.

 

Curry is working with the potential new pilots in studying for their Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification test. Once certified, they become eligible to pilot the drones within our municipal fleet. As additional city staff members become remote pilots, the more frequent and more diverse the use of our drones can become.

 

The reason for different drones is that each has advantages and disadvantages because of their capabilities and accompanying accessories. Each is used for different situations and under different scenarios. Some are designed for higher altitudes and some for confined spaces. Some are for indoor use, and some for outdoors.

 

The newest drone to the fleet is designed for indoor use. It is equipped with bumpers to protect the drone's propellers and a sharply pointed nose cone designed to break window glass to gain entry into secured buildings during a dangerous situation.

 

Recently the Bridgeport Police Department was asked by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department to assist in the search for a missing five-year-old autistic boy along with the WV State Police. Both agencies have drones equipped with thermal imaging sensors ideal for these situations. Across the country, police and fire departments are frequently involved in the search for missing persons or fugitives. The ability to use drones to search for heat signatures, in addition to visual aerial observations, can substantially improve the chances of finding these persons and doing so quickly. This can lead to more successful outcomes and better public safety.

 

It seems as though there is an incident involving gun violence in the United States almost daily. Bridgeport has not been immune. Just over a year ago, Bridgeport was the site of a shooting by a man purported to be having a mental health crisis and who took his own life. There have also been multiple occurrences of weapons brandishing and standoffs with police in our community over the past few years. Thankfully, almost all of these incidents have been resolved without grave consequences to officers or the public.

 

Still, the threat of violence, injury, or death cannot be taken lightly. Using drones to monitor and survey a developing situation from the sky can help keep our emergency responders safe and out of harm's way. Images and videos captured by our drones can also be used as evidence at trial to bring justice when the time comes.

 

Last spring, I completed the Bridgeport Police Department’s Citizens Police Academy. During one session, we received a drone presentation from Tim Curry.

 

The demonstration came well after dark at the end of that evening's program. We watched as Tim maneuvered the drone from the front lawn of City Hall and up into the night sky. His handheld monitor lit up to show the area around us as seen by the done’s onboard camera. Officer Isaac Thomas went to the side of the building where the drone could, silently and undetected, follow him. We could watch his activity from the screen in Tim’s hands. It was impressive.

 

Next, Tim electronically tagged a car from his controller in an adjacent parking lot. We watched as the drone tracked the vehicle as it left the parking lot and drove up Bridgeport Hill on Route 50. Even more impressive.

 

Do you recall the recent event where a trio of criminals in their white van led a high-speed chase through the neighborhood streets of Bridgeport? The perpetrators fired their weapons repeatedly at the police in pursuit. In this situation, a drone could have drastically improved the safety of residents and officers alike. A drone would have allowed the officers to follow the suspects at a safe and potentially undetected distance. Once the perpetrators were in an unpopulated area, police could close in and apprehend the suspects. All without a high-speed chase or gunfire breaking out on our local streets.

 

These examples are just a sample of what the “Bridgeport Air Force” can do for the city and our area. I haven’t even touched on its uses for Public Works, Engineering, Community Development, and more.

 

The extra benefits are many, but the primary and essential drone benefit is for public safety. The safe

apprehension of a suspect, the de-escalation of a hostage situation, or the rescue and return of one child are more than enough reasons to justify the existence of our drone fleet.

 

To serve and protect. The rest is just gravy. To modify the United States Air Force motto for use with Tim Curry’s municipal air force, I propose the following:

 

Bridgeport Drone Fleet

 

“Aim High … Search-Rescue-Protect”

 

Why Bridgeport? Tim Curry, with the backing of the City of Bridgeport and Bridgeport City Council, is taking steps to be prepared to deal with the previously unthinkable and unfortunate things that sometimes happen in our unstable and chaotic world.  So when a tragedy or an emergency arises, it is good to know we have access to the equipment and pilots to provide an eye in the sky to search, rescue, and protect us. Knowing this allows me and the residents of Bridgeport to rest easier.

 

Editor's Note: First and third photos show some of the members of the city's Police, Fire, and Engineering Departments working with the drones. Second photo is a closeup of one of the drones and in the bottom photo, Tim Curry, the City's  Director of the Office of Emergency Management, showing one of the drones.