‘Seconds matter’ How Mount Pleasant police use drones to improve safety and efficiency From the Racine County Police Stories series Milana Doné Nov 4, 2025 Nov 4, 2025 Updated Feb 3, 2026 × Milana Doné The Mount Pleasant outdoor police drone can use both cameras and thermal imaging to locate subjects. Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save MOUNT PLEASANT — The Mount Pleasant Police Department has upgraded its drone program to facilitate speed and efficiency within the department.kAmx? =2E6 a_ac[ $A64ECF> 2?5 =@42= =2H 6?7@C46>6?E 286?4:6D 5:D4FDD65 E96 36?67:ED @7 5C@?6D[ :?4=F5:?8 BF:4<=J 2?5 677:4:6?E=J 4@?5F4E:?8 D62C49 2?5 C6D4F6[ =@42E:?8 >:DD:?8 A6CD@?D[ A9@E@8C2A9:?8 2?5 >2AA:?8 4C:>6 D46?6D[ AC@G:5:?8 D:EF2E:@?2= 2H2C6?6DD 5FC:?8 DA64:2= 6G6?ED 2?5 2:5:?8 :? E96 2AAC696?D:@? @7 DF3;64ED]k^Am Sgt. Dale Swart controls the Mount Pleasant Police Department’s outdoor drone in a missing person demonstration Wednesday. Milana Doné, kAm$A64ECF> 5@?2E65 S``[e__ E@ E96 56A2CE>6?E 62C=:6C E9:D J62C 7@C E96 AFC492D6 2 5C@?6 7@C @FE5@@C FD6]k^Am kAm%96 ?6H 5C@?6[ H9:49 C6A=246D 2 7:CDE\86?6C2E:@? >@56=[ 762EFC6D 2 H:56\2?8=6 2?5 K@@> 42>6C2[ 2D H6== 2D :?7C2C65 2?5 E96C>2= :>28:?8 42A23:=:E:6D]k^Am People are also reading… Prominent UW-Madison professor agrees to resign after investigation Lake Geneva approves plans and permits for several projects UW-Eau Claire joins UW system’s Direct Admit program Gateway helps graduate help family IKEA store on Madison's Far West Side will consume 3 retail spaces Brandon Sproat part of Triple-A no-hitter; Tyler Black saves the day Lake Geneva superintendent provides details about contract Lake Geneva Schools seeks mentors for 'Mini Badgers' program Wisconsin high school football player who died after game remembered for love of sports, family, cattle Green Bay police shoot, kill armed subject during welfare check Packers get a glimpse of what MarShawn Lloyd can add to offense in preseason win DRT, WCSE looking to form disaster response team in Walworth County St. Francis de Sales School completes expansion project Maxwell Street Days in downtown Lake Geneva, plus car show & beer on a train Sauna boat experience now available on Lake Como kAmsFC:?8 2 56>@?DEC2E:@? ~4E] ah[ r9:67 #@36CE q@ED49 4:E65 E96 5C@?6’D >2I:>F> DA665 @7 d` >A9]k^Am Mount Pleasant police chief Robert Botsch introduces the department’s drones before a demonstration at Mount Pleasant Village Hall Wednesday. Milana Doné, kAm“x? AF3=:4 D276EJ[ D64@?5D >2EE6C[” q@ED49 D2:5] “sC@?6D AC@G:56 @77:46CD E96 23:=:EJ E@ 86E :>>65:2E6 6J6D @? 2 AC@3=6> @C 4@?46C? 2?5 AC@G:56 :?DE2?E 7665324< E@ E96 @77:46CD]”k^Am kAm%96 56A2CE>6?E 2=D@ 92D EH@ :?5@@C 5C@?6D[ H9:49 H6C6 AFC492D65 @G6C E96 DF>>6C]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAm%96 5C@?6D 2C6 FD65 5FC:?8 DA64:2= 6G6?ED[ 7@C =@42E:?8 2 >:DD:?8 A6CD@? 2?5 7@C 4=62C:?8 3F:=5:?8D AC:@C E@ @77:46CD 6?E6C:?8]k^Am Sgt. Dale Swart demonstrates operation of the Mount Pleasant Police Department’s indoor drone Wednesday. Milana Doné photos, kAmsFC:?8 E96 56>@?DEC2E:@?[ E96 @FE5@@C 5C@?6 H2D 23=6 E@ 7:?5 2? 24E@C :? 2 ?62C3J 7:6=5 FD:?8 E96C>2= :>28:?8 56DA:E6 E96 A6CD@? 3=6?5:?8 :? H:E9 E96 E2== 8C2DD]k^Am kAmp? @77:46C 2E E96 A@=:46 56A2CE>6?E H2D 23=6 E@ D66 E96 :>286 7C@> E96 5C@?6 2?5 4@>>F?:42E6 H:E9 2? @77:46C 2?5 zh 23@FE E96 24E@C’D =@42E:@?]k^Am kAmp 92?57F= @7 |!!s @77:46CD 2C6 46CE:7:65 3J E96 u656C2= pG:2E:@? p5>:?:DEC2E:@? E@ @A6C2E6 E96 @FE5@@C 5C@?6 2?5 @E96CD 2C6 36:?8 EC2:?65] %96 56A2CE>6?E 9@A6D E@ E@ 92G6 2 5@K6? @77:46CD H9@ 2C6 upp 46CE:7:65]k^AmkAm%96 #24:?6 r@F?EJ $96C:77’D ~77:46 2?5 r2=65@?:2 !@=:46 s6A2CE>6?E 2=D@ 92G6 E96 D2>6 >@56= @7 @FE5@@C 5C@?6[ D@ E96 286?4:6D 42? H@C< E@86E96C]k^Am Indoor drones can be sent into a room or building to clear it before officers and K9 units enter the space. Milana Doné kAm“(96? J@FCD 4@>6D 5@H?[ :7 J@F 92G6 2 A2CE?6CD9:A H:E9 D@>63@5J 6=D6[ E96:CD 8@6D FA 2?5 J@F @G6C=2A[” q@ED49 D2:5] “(6 C646?E=J H@C<65 H:E9 r2=65@?:2 @? E92E H96C6 x <?6H @FCD 925 E@ 4@>6 5@H? 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H:E9 2? @77:46C @? 7@@E @C :? 2 42C] %9:D E649?@=@8J 96=AD FD E@ 36 72DE6C[ D>2CE6C 2?5 D276C[ H9:49 F=E:>2E6=J >2<6D FD 36EE6C]”k^Am In this Series Racine County Police Stories Updated Feb 4, 2026 Racine supervisors approve tentative union agreement for sheriff's deputies Updated Feb 4, 2026 Racine Police Department swears in eight officers, promotes five Updated Feb 4, 2026 Schmaling not seeking reelection as Racine County sheriff 20 updates Previous Next Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Mount Pleasant drone demonstration The Mount Pleasant outdoor police drone can use both cameras and thermal imaging to locate subjects. Recent stories by Racine Journal Times reporter Milana Doné Watch Now: Related Video World pays tribute to ‘north star’ Dolly Parton after death from cancer WisEye Morning Minute: Graduate Nursing Student Clinical Placements WisEye Morning Minute: Graduate Nursing Student Clinical Placements Top stories for Aug. 26, 2026 Top stories for Aug. 26, 2026 'Why do the good people have to go?' Opryland Hotel tourists react to Dolly Parton's death 'Why do the good people have to go?' Opryland Hotel tourists react to Dolly Parton's death Watch Now: Related Video World pays tribute to ‘north star’ Dolly Parton after death from cancer WisEye Morning Minute: Graduate Nursing Student Clinical Placements WisEye Morning Minute: Graduate Nursing Student Clinical Placements Top stories for Aug. 26, 2026 Top stories for Aug. 26, 2026 'Why do the good people have to go?' Opryland Hotel tourists react to Dolly Parton's death 'Why do the good people have to go?' 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Mount Pleasant drone demonstration The Mount Pleasant outdoor police drone can use both cameras and thermal imaging to locate subjects.
