December 16, 2024
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La Salle receives $6,000 from local businesses for drone purchase

Businesses, emergency staff demonstrate equipment Dec. 10

By Maribeth M. Wilson
Police Chief Mike Smudzinski (from left), Gina Mudge of JB Contracting, Shawn Mages of Illinois Cement, Lyndsay Bliss of Carus LLC, Police Sgt. Nick Bernal, Fire Chief Jerry Janick, and La Salle Fire Department Engineer/EMT Hunter Thurman (front) gathered on December 10 to celebrate recent drone donations from the aforementioned companies as well as James Brady Farms and John Pohar and Sons.

La Salle Police Chief Mike Smudzinski (from left), Gina Mudge of JB Contracting, Shawn Mages of Illinois Cement, Lyndsay Bliss of Carus LLC, Police Sgt. Nick Bernal, Fire Chief Jerry Janick and La Salle Fire Department Engineer/EMT Hunter Thurman (front) gathered Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, to celebrate recent drone donations from the aforementioned companies as well as James Brady Farms and John Pohar and Sons. (Photo provided by City of La Salle)

The La Salle police and fire departments received an early holiday gift from partners in the local business community in the form of donations to the departments’ recent purchase of a drone.

Local businesses JB Contracting Corp., Carus LLC, James Brady Farms, Illinois Cement and John Pohar and Sons donated a total of $6,000 to the purchase of a DJI Matric 30T drone in September, La Salle Public Information Officer Brent Bader said in a Monday news release

Bader said the city identified a need for this technology and when it began gathering funds for a drone, reached out to local businesses to assist with the purchase.

Shawn Mages of Illinois Cement (from left) and Police Chief Mike Smudzinski track the City’s new drone during a demonstration as La Salle Fire Department Engineer/EMT Hunter Thurman pilots from the ground near the La Salle Police Department. The departments received donations from the local business community towards the purchase.

Shawn Mages of Illinois Cement (from left) and La Salle Police Chief Mike Smudzinski track the city’s new drone during a demonstration as La Salle Fire Department Engineer/EMT Hunter Thurman pilots from the ground near the La Salle Police Department. The departments received donations from the local business community towards the purchase. (Photo provided by City of La Salle)

Drone technology is becoming commonplace in law enforcement and fire protection, Bader said in the news release. Their use is invaluable for disaster response, traffic control and more.

Bader said representatives from some of the companies assembled at the La Salle Police Department on Dec. 10 to review the new equipment,

La Salle Police Chief Mike Smudzinski and Fire Chief Jerry Janick thanked the representatives for their donation to the departments.

“The departments have already utilized the drone a few times since acquiring it including on cases involving search and rescue, missing persons, and more,” Bader said in the news release.

La Salle Fire Department Engineer/EMT Hunter Thurman, piloting the city’s new drone, showed donors how the drone can zoom in on areas such as La Salle Police Department.

La Salle Fire Department Engineer/EMT Hunter Thurman, piloting the city’s new drone, shows donors how the drone can zoom in on areas such as La Salle Police Department. (Photo provided by the City of La Salle )

The representatives available for the demonstration were shown how the camera can track both individuals from far distances, pertaining to open cases, or search and rescue missions. It also can track vehicles by their license plate.

Bader said the city has one police officer and one firefighter who have received FAA licenses to operate the drone.

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