Vigo County Sheriff's Office
Policy Manual
Unmanned Aerial System
Deployment of a UAS shall require written authorization of the Sheriff or the authorized designee, depending on the type of mission.
Coordinating the completion of the FAA Emergency Operation Request Form in emergency situations, as applicable (e.g., natural disasters, search and rescue, emergency situations to safeguard human life).
Developing protocols for conducting criminal investigations involving a UAS, including documentation of time spent monitoring a subject.
Implementing a system for public notification of UAS deployment.
Developing operational protocols governing the deployment and operation of a UAS including but not limited to safety oversight, use of visual observers, establishment of lost link procedures, and secure communication with air traffic control facilities.
Developing a protocol for fully documenting all missions.
Developing a UAS inspection, maintenance, and record-keeping protocol to ensure continuing airworthiness of a UAS, up to and including its overhaul or life limits.
Developing protocols to ensure that all data intended to be used as evidence are accessed, maintained, stored, and retrieved in a manner that ensures its integrity as evidence, including strict adherence to chain of custody requirements. Electronic trails, including encryption, authenticity certificates, and date and time stamping, shall be used as appropriate to preserve individual rights and to ensure the authenticity and maintenance of a secure evidentiary chain of custody.
Developing protocols that ensure retention and purge periods are maintained in accordance with established records retention schedules.
Facilitating law enforcement access to images and data captured by the UAS.
Recommending program enhancements, particularly regarding safety and information security.
Ensuring that established protocols are followed by monitoring and providing periodic reports on the program to the Sheriff.
Maintaining familiarity with FAA regulatory standards, state laws and regulations, and local ordinances regarding the operations of a UAS.
606.5 USE OF UAS
Only authorized operators who have completed the required training shall be permitted to operate the UAS.
Use of vision enhancement technology (e.g., thermal and other imaging equipment not generally available to the public) is permissible in viewing areas only where there is no protectable privacy interest or when in compliance with a search warrant or court order. In all other instances, legal counsel should be consulted.
UAS operations should only be conducted consistent with FAA regulations.