Bear sightings have been a common occurrence recently across Santa Fe, but there is something else you can expect to see more of in the capital city as well – drones
SANTA FE, N.M. – Bear sightings have been a common occurrence recently across Santa Fe, but there is something else you can expect to see more of in the capital city as well – drones.
Just one day after the Santa Fe City Council approved over $2 million in funding for a police drone program over the next five years, Santa Fe Police Department used a drone to help in the search for a bear on the run.
That bear was spotted wandering near mobile home parks and local schools, forcing law enforcement and Department of Wildlife officials to move in to try to capture it.
“Once they had the location for the bear, they were able to give aerial reconnaissance to provide a location, which gave a little bit of breathing room to everyone so they could establish a good perimeter,” said SFPD Interim Chief Ben Valdez.
Councilors voted 6-2 in favor of expanding the drone program on Wednesday.
“There are so many great use cases that we’ve seen so far. One was shown yesterday,” said Interim Chief Valdez.
Sante Fe police posted the drone video on social media showing how officers managed to keep eyes on the bear as it tried to evade capture.
In one instance, the bear came very close to a Department of Wildlife officer who appeared to take off his hat and throw it in the direction of the bear.
Eventually, a team effort enabled officers to tranquilize the bear to be safely relocated.
It was actually one of two bears captured for relocation Thursday with officers also tracking down a bear on foot at Ashbaugh Park.
Valdez said he was thankful the community listened to messages from police about keeping children and pets indoors during the search, especially as the bear being tracked via drone approached local schools.
“From what I saw in the drone video, it looked like he was kind of focusing on the cafeteria area,” he said.
While Santa Fe leaders are optimistic about all the ways the drone program can help officers, some at Wednesday’s meeting expressed concern over the cost of the technology and how police may use it for surveillance purposes.
“I am strongly opposed to giving police any additional surveillance technology. This department has already used its tools beyond their intended purpose, including surveillance of unhoused neighbors. And a department that abuses its tools should not get even more powerful ones,” one resident said.
