County is the first public safety agency in the country to purchase the system
SOMERVILLE -- The Somerset County Sheriff's Office has purchased a drone system to help in search-and-rescue operations involving people with disabilities and the elderly, Sheriff Frank Provenzano announced Friday in a news release.
Working with the Project Lifesaver team and Lockheed Martin, the office purchased a Project Lifesaver International Indago Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System, according to the statement.
"The Somerset County Sheriff's Office is the first public safety agency in the country to adopt the PLI Indago UAV System," said Project Lifesaver International CEO and founder Gene Saunders.
"This type of innovative thinking and planning shows the Somerset County Sheriff's Office's commitment to the special-needs community and their dedication to protecting all in Somerset County."
The system is a military-grade drone designed specifically for the search and rescue of special-needs populations with cognitive disorders who may be prone to the life-threatening behavior of wandering, including those with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, autism and Down syndrome, the release stated.
The purchase was funded from the Sheriff's Drug Enforcement Association forfeiture account consisting of federal monies seized from cooperative investigations with members of the Sheriff's Office, the release stated.
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"This is a win-win for the Sheriff's Office and the residents of Somerset County for our agency to be able to assist the special-needs community with a tool of this significance," said Provenzano. "The UAV system has greatly impacted search and rescue efforts in other parts of the country. We fully anticipate having the same positive results in our county during times of crisis when families need our services the most."
Project Lifesaver is a program coordinated through the Somerset County Office on Aging & Disability Services and supported by the county Board of Chosen Freeholders.
"Project LifeSaver provides extra support to caregivers and families in order to keep their loved one in the community," said OOA&DS Executive Director Joanne Fetzko. "Not only will the use of this equipment reduce search time and increase public safety, but it will do so without risking the safety of the rescue team and first responders, which is undeniably an invaluable benefit to the community."
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.