‘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… Former Bob's Beach Shack building could be demolished for new restaurant Lake Geneva Plan Commission approves permit for wedding venue on Wesley Inn & Resort site Texas man dies after car and minivan collide on Interstate 43 in Delavan Videos appear to show Corey Ruiz hit by Tasers seconds before he was shot Tree worker dies after suspected lightning strike in Whitewater Madison announces Willy Street detour; businesses react to shutdown Lake Geneva approves permit for proposed supper club Lake Geneva Plan Commission gives initial approval to Simple Food Group's multi-use campus Inside a movement: 24 hours on Madison’s Willy Street Madison's newest wellness trend comes through an IV drip Lake Geneva City Council rejects changes to Tourism Commission Lake Geneva ends emergency declaration related to July 3 storm Lake Geneva Public Library to conduct annual craft swap Lake Geneva area lodging facilities offering special summer menus Walworth County residents being asked to assist with storm damage assessment 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? D@ r2=65@?:2 AFE E96:CD FA 23@FE EH@ >:?FE6D 367@C6 @FCD 42>6 5@H?[ 2?5 H6 ?6G6C =@DE 4@G6C286]”k^Am kAmsC@?6D 7@C :?E6C:@C FD6 2C6 >F49 D>2==6C[ =:89E6C 2?5 5@ ?@E C6BF:C6 upp 46CE:7:42E:@?[ D@ >@C6 @77:46CD H:== 36 EC2:?65 E@ @A6C2E6 E96>]k^AmkAmsC@?6D 2C6 2? 6IE6?D:@? @7 E96 A@=:46[ >62?:?8 @77:46CD DE:== ?665 4@?D6?E @C 2 D62C49 H2CC2?E E@ D6?5 2 5C@?6 :?E@ 2 9@>6[ q@ED49 D2:5]k^Am kAm“&D:?8 5C@?6D E@ 6?E6C F?4=62C65[ 9:89\C:D< 2C62D 96=AD :56?E:7J 4@?462=65 E9C62ED :? 25G2?46 @7 A@=:46 zhD 2?5 @77:46CD 6?E6C:?8 E96 C@@>[ >:?:>:K:?8 C:D<[” q@ED49 D2:5] “q@EE@> =:?6i H6 42? 4@G6C >@C6 8C@F?5 7C@> E96 2:C E92? H6 42? 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 EXCLUSIVE: Trump Warns Supreme Court E. 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Mount Pleasant drone demonstration The Mount Pleasant outdoor police drone can use both cameras and thermal imaging to locate subjects.
EXCLUSIVE: Trump Warns Supreme Court E. Jean Carroll's $83.3M Defamation Judgment Threatens Future Presidents
EXCLUSIVE: Trump Warns Supreme Court E. Jean Carroll's $83.3M Defamation Judgment Threatens Future Presidents
