Columbus Area Career Connection students in the criminal justice program are using drones to prepare for future careers.
The C4 program has 32 drones students use for mock scenarios such as accident investigations and search and rescue training, C4 criminal justice instructor Mike Ward said.
The program recently received a $15,000 donation from AT&T through the Bartholomew Consolidated School Foundation that will help students further explore what drones can do.
Ward, who worked for the Columbus Police Department for 31 years, said 150 students are enrolled in the C4 criminal justice program at Columbus East High School. The drones are used once a week as part of the training, he said.
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Each drone has video capabilities, controlled by individuals on the ground who are able to see a bird’s eye of the surroundings on their controllers. Two of the drones cost $1,500 each and are equipped with 4K resolution cameras on them, while the remaining 30 cost about $250 each and do not have the high tech features of the other two, Ward said.
Ward said the use of technology such as deploying drones in public safety is expanding.
“Whatever we can do to keep our students relevant with what’s going on with our public safety professionals, I think that’s good,” Ward said.
Peyton Weller, a senior at East, is considering a possible career in the criminal justice system and said being able to use the technology has been helpful in staying current within the field.
Jacob Monroe, a junior at East, started with the C4 criminal justice program this school year. He intends to enter the U.S. Navy to work as a mechanic and has taken time to learn how the drone operates.
“You can practice maneuvering it and getting video from it,” Monroe said.
Students who successfully complete drone or unmanned vehicle technology training through the program will receive a drone awareness and safety course completion certificate.
“This is a great opportunity to keep kids engaged and on track to graduate through an active learning environment,” said Jim Roberts, BCSC superintendent. “It’s tremendous to see AT&T supporting an experience that will help our students determine if public safety — which can be an extremely rewarding career — is something they really want to do.”
The Columbus Fire Department has also talked to students about how firefighters use drones, the requirements for using the technology and how drones work in public safety, said Capt. Mike Wilson, fire department spokesman. Firefighters use drones for search and rescue operations, missing persons, water rescues, pre-planning to enter large buildings and other needs, Wilson said.
Shannan Hinton, Bartholomew County Emergency Management director, also said it is good to know students from Bartholomew County are learning about drone technology.
“But in order to use it well, training is critical,” she said. “We appreciate our local schools’ focus on increasing the interest in public safety careers and AT&T’s support for their efforts,” Hinton said.
Ward said he hopes students in the C4 program can participate in drone training with the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department and the Indiana State Police in the future.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”By the numbers” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
$15,000: Total monetary donation from AT&T to support Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. C4 program
150: Number of students currently enrolled in the C4 criminal justice program.
32: Total number of drones available.
31: Number of years in law enforcement C4 instructor Mike Ward served with the Columbus Police Department.
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