MADISON, Wis. — The Dane County Sheriff’s Office uses drones during potentially life-saving calls, including two incidents in a single overnight shift over the weekend.
Just before 1 a.m. Sunday, deputies responded to the Town of Bristol regarding an intoxicated man, who had been wearing pajamas and tennis shoes, reportedly leaving his house after an argument. With temperatures well below zero in recent days, a drone equipped with night vision was requested. The man was quickly located and taken home.
In the second instance, members of the sheriff’s office drone team, along with the Cottage Grove Fire Department, responded to Kegonsa State Park hours after the first incident to assist a man stranded on the lake. Officials observed that he had walked out onto the ice but became concerned when it began to crack beneath him. He did not believe he could return to shore safely. Working with the firefighters on the ice, the deputies used drones to guide everyone back to shore safely…