Paul Daly, a trailblazer in the world of drone law enforcement, shares his journey from obtaining a Remote Pilot’s License to heading the drone operations in the Western Australia Police Air Wing.
“I always saw the introduction of drones into various industries as a potential disruptor. The applications are many and varied, and I saw the opportunities that come with it,” Daly said. He originally got his Remote Pilot’s License “just in case”, with no specific use in mind.
Daly’s interest in drones has since grown exponentially. From being just a pilot, he now chairs the National RPAS Working Group and oversees drone operations in law enforcement. He remarked, “I didn’t imagine I would be in charge of Air Wing but that basic knowledge gained in the early days has greatly assisted. That and a natural curiosity to incorporate drones into every operation has helped!”
The integration of drones into their work has also been a source of innovation for the team. According to Daly, any sentence that begins a conversation with “It would be really good if…” is the beginning of innovation.
“We are constantly looking at ways they can enhance operations. Situational awareness is king in law enforcement. Any time we can see what is going on [through the use of drones] and get that to officers on the ground and command teams overseeing the operation, we are always going to be making better decisions in a faster time.”
Daly also shared a striking analogy that illustrates the versatile applications of drones, saying, “Along the lines of delivering a coffee to a person, a Police officer can be delivering a mobile phone to commence crisis negotiations or delivering food/medication to a hostage scenario.”
Daly also spoke about the challenges the team faced with drone technology that turned into opportunities for improvement or success. “The need for Emergency service exemptions saw the formulation of the National working group. This has brought all the Chief Pilots across Australia together for the first time to engage, discuss and hopefully deliver the required exemptions.”
When asked to recount an instance where drones proved crucial, Daly narrated an intense rescue story that underscored the lifesaving potential of drone technology. He told of a hang-gliding incident where a man had ended up clinging to the side of a cliff, dangerously close to violent waves. Given the precarious angle of the cliff and the tumultuous sea conditions, police were struggling to pinpoint the man’s location. However, the deployment of a drone dramatically changed the course of the operation. The drone, undeterred by the adverse conditions, managed to locate the man and relay his coordinates to the rescue teams. Reflecting on the incident, Daly wondered whether the man’s life could have been saved without the invaluable assistance of the drone.
Looking ahead, Daly expressed his excitement about the future possibilities of drones in policing and emergency services, being “keen to explore longer duration and higher altitude drones to assist with situational awareness and response times”.
For aspiring drone pilots, Daly advised them to be proactive, take every opportunity to learn and train, and build strong relationships.
Finally, reflecting on his journey with drones, Daly said, “Drone usage is going to increase over time. They are directly supporting our frontline officers, helping them to provide a better service to our community.”
