GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) – Gatlinburg’s police and fire departments are embracing new technology that allows emergency crews to see incident scenes before officers, firefighters or paramedics arrive.
The city’s Gatlinburg Public Safety Aviation Program uses three remotely operated drones stationed at launch sites throughout the city. Managed by Ian Wedlock, a Gatlinburg firefighter and paramedic, the program became operational in September and has already completed approximately 120 missions.
When a 911 call comes into dispatch, personnel can immediately launch a drone to the reported location…