Elmhurst Police Want To Deploy Drones

ELMHURST, IL – The Elmhurst Police Department is asking aldermen for permission to buy two drones, one of them for training.

The price tag is about $8,000.

On Monday, the council is set to vote on the drones. Last week, a council committee recommended the purchase.

Now, the local police rely on other suburban agencies for drones during emergencies. But having their own would "greatly enhance" searches for missing people and suspects, crime scene photography and public safety security, the police said.

The main drone would cost $7,400, while the training one would come in about $600.

According to a city memo, public safety drones are equipped with high-definition cameras, thermal cameras for night operations, spotlights, loudspeakers and obstacle avoidance software.