LONDON, KY - Laurel County Sheriff John Root is reporting that: The Laurel County Sheriff's office has purchased a new piece of equipment that will aid our agency with reconstructing accident/crime scenes.
The equipment is a "Total Station" purchased at a price of $29,900 and purchased using drug forfeiture money at no cost to taxpayers.
The equipment can be used either by Laser or GPS, indoor or outdoor and will be used at crash sites/crime scene locations to process the scene precisely and quickly. The equipment accurately maps out the scene including all measurements needed to depict the scene. Then those field measurements are loaded into a computer with special software, and the scene is mapped out.
In addition, this equipment will be available to process the scene almost immediately eliminating the need go back to the scene. This will be especially helpful at traffic crashes so that officers will not have to shut the roadway down a second time to map the scene while awaiting total station equipment arrival from other agencies that assisted.
Previously, another agency having the equipment would have to be notified and the equipment scheduled. Now, the equipment will be readily available for the Sheriff's Office Reconstructionists to utilize. Having this equipment will reduce the time a lane must be closed and will reduce delays for motorists and the potential for more accidents to occur.
Currently the Laurel County Sheriff's office has five investigators that can reconstruct a traffic crash/crime scene.
Our Reconstructionists are: Maj. Chuck Johnson, Lt. Chris Edwards, Detective Richard Dalrymple, Deputy Brad Mink, and Deputy Hobie Daugherty.
Sheriff John Root stated that "Laurel County is fortunate to have direct access to a piece of equipment such as “Total Station” thereby adding another level of professionalism to the Laurel County Sheriff's office".
A special thanks to Detective Sgt. Chris Edwards for his assistance while working with the company that provides total station and obtaining a great price for total station.
Additionally the Laurel County Sheriff's office has purchased 3 drones at no cost to tax payers.
Crime scene/Acident scene Mapping drone
Flir Drone
One of the drones will primarily be used to assist in mapping out serious injury crashes, fatal traffic crash scenes, crime scenes and will be used in conjunction with our total station equipment.
Our second drone has Flir thermal imaging infrared cameras on it which will assist deputies in searches for individuals who may be lost. Also this equipment will aid in tracking and locating dangerous suspects.
Our third drone can be used at barricaded incidents to secure the scene and locate suspects safely.
Drones have become an essential public safety tool for a variety of missions including but not limited to: traffic accident scene investigations, search and rescue operations, tracking and locating suspects, assessing dangerous situations, and natural disaster response and recovery efforts.
The drones also have a loud speaker capability allowing deputies to communicate with individuals or suspects on the ground.
The Laurel County Sheriff's office has four licensed operators including: K-9/shift Sgt. Gary Mehler, Deputy Brad Mink, Deputy Hobie Daugherty, and Deputy Josh Morgan.
Pictures attached include pictures of deputies utilizing total station during recent crash and crime scene investigations.
Also included are pictures of drone training being conducted for the four licensed operators including pictures of the two drones.
Laurel County Sheriff John Root stated that "These pieces of equipment are vital to the Laurel County Sheriff's Office allowing deputies to accurately, thoroughly and safely investigate traffic crashes, work crime scenes, to provide the necessary information to document and assist in the prosecution of criminal cases and crashes investigated. The Laurel County Sheriff's Office is proud to continue to provide this level of professionalism to the citizens of Laurel County".
