Upper Darby police credit new crime intel center, drones with arrests

UPPER DARBY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WPVI) -- Upper Darby police say a new crime intelligence center and drone docking station are helping officers make arrests more quickly and monitor incidents in real time.

Police pointed to a June 30 arrest in which a police drone followed a reported stolen vehicle.

Video released by the department shows the suspect weaving through township streets before pulling over in the stolen 2016 silver Nissan Maxima.

Officers in unmarked vehicles arrived and arrested the suspect.

According to police, the arrest was among the first linked to the township's new crime intel center and drone docking station, a project launched this summer.

"It's absolutely changed the game for us in how we police," Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt said.

Police also highlighted a June 25 arrest following a robbery in the 100 block of 69th Street. Authorities said a drone tracked a 16-year-old suspect after the incident.

"That individual leaves the store, is walking away, changing clothes and trying to hide the items that are stolen," Bernhardt said.

Video shows officers pulling up and arresting the teenager.

Bernhardt said the technology is helping reduce the need for more aggressive police responses.

"This is becoming a de-escalation tool without us even realizing it. Why do I say that? Because now the cars are slowing down. They're not going lights and sirens. They're not getting there overly aggressive," he said.

The crime intel center combines police camera feeds with drone operations. Police said that when a 911 call is received, officers can access cameras at the location and begin monitoring the scene. If suspects move, officers can deploy one of eight drones.

"It has been such a great tool that we are now using," Bernhardt said.

"There's no waste of time," he added.

Upper Darby police said they have installed cameras at more than 20 intersections throughout the township. The department cited a street takeover during the Fourth of July holiday near State Road and Lansdowne Avenue, saying officers made 15 arrests while monitoring the scene in real time.

"We knew where to strategically place cameras throughout the township," Bernhardt said.

As police plan to expand use of the technology in future investigations, Bernhardt emphasized that the system is intended for public safety purposes.

"We're not doing anything other than public safety," he said.

"We're not looking at people, we're not watching people that shouldn't be watched. We're not zooming the cameras in. This is strictly a tool," Bernhardt said.

Police say the technology will continue to be used as a crime-fighting tool to help monitor incidents and assist in investigations across Upper Darby Township.