My name is Shane and I'm police officer and I'm looking for the right tool for the job and I need your help.

Right now as it stands, there is no quick reaction air asset that is affordable and available to road patrol officers. Traditionally a helicopter is utilized but the time to target, costs, weather and safety concerns are all factors in whether or not it is even deployed.

I am requesting your assistance in funding a road patrol deployable drone or UAS (Unmaned Aircraft System) with infrared capabilities.

Drones save lives through information gathering, reuniting the lost whether it be a child with special needs, an elderly individual with Alzheimer's , or a therapy / working animal that got separated from its owner.

Elderly Man Found In -2 degree weather

Boston Marathon Bomber Located via Thermal Imaging

Florida Man Recovers Lost Pets

Furthermore drones aid in locating criminals whether on foot or in a vehicle; in broad daylight or the cover of night, surveying a disaster scene, and gaining compliance without the violence.

I am licensed Part 107 pilot, with over 1,000 operating hours, and 10 years of flight experience, and a member of the Law Enforcement Drone Association (LEDA).

My original plan was to make the purchase on my own last year but medical expenses in my family and other unforeseen circumstances obliterated my savings and every attempt to rebuild my savings has been met with another life event that sets me back to zero.

It is rare event that a shift goes by in which a drone could not have been utilized to safe guard fellow officers or enhance the safety of the public. Everyday that goes by feels like an itch I can not scratch and I fear the day someone gets hurt and I could've prevented it if only I was properly equipped.

I've researched this subject tirelessly over the last several years, narrowed down the field to several appropriate UASs and I've been working with multiple vendors to get the price down.

This drone is to be operated solely by myself, remain in my care and custody and my department will have no claim to it.

To be clear, you are funding an individual, not an entity; government or otherwise. You are not funding a toy, you're funding a tool

It shall be operated in full adherence of the FAA guidelines along with state and local policies. All flights and missions shall be logged appropriately. My emphasis is on the safety and privacy of the public I took an oath to protect.

Any amount given is a blessing, please share this friends and family and coworkers. Do your own research, come to your own conclusion. If we all give a little, we can do a lot.

The total amount requested may appear from the outset as questionably high, this is a researched a valid estimate. The drone in question is the Autel EVO Max 4N .

Short video showcasing its abilities: EVO Max 4N

Key Features:

The price reflects quality and capability for my proof of concept.

While there are other thermal drones on the market at much lower price points, this is an instance of you get what you pay for. I want for this to be a successful mission by essentially future proofing the investment for years to come.

Any additional funding past the goal would go solely towards increasing the drone's robustness, this includes a swappable camera that reduces it's night vision capabilities and focuses on a 160x zoom, a payload delivery system (As seen here) that can deliver life saving items (medication or life preserver), additional batteries, and any other item that can better service the public trust.

A "buy once, cry once" situation as it were. This cuts down on needless overspending down the line. To put things into perspective the thermal camera that is mounted on the helicopter that caught the Boston Bomber cost in the realm of $300,000. Source - Popular Science

If this is funded I would love to be able to keep in contact with all my donors via a monthly newsletter keeping you up to date and informed with what you generosity has provided the community.