The Rotary Club of Arlington has given the Arlington Police Department a drone.

Officers are expected to use the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise Series drone, priced at $6,157, for emergency calls for service, such as water or ice rescues and to search for missing persons, a news release says.

APD photo

Chief praises Rotary

"We are grateful to President [Paul] Buckley and the District 7930 Arlington MA Rotary Club for this donation to the department and to the town," Chief Juliann Flaherty said in the Jan. 26 release.

"Drones are a valuable asset to a police department for many purposes, and we will put the equipment to good use. The Arlington Police Department has had many valuable experiences with the Rotary Club, and their support of their community is inspiring and appreciated."

The drone was gifted recently after the club saw how useful the equipment is to first responders in times of crisis.

Buckley said in the release: "Arlington Rotary is proud to be donating a Mavik 3 Thermal drone to the Arlington Police Department to assist them in keeping our town safe. The drone will allow them to monitor and search areas in a more efficient and safer manner.

"We were able to do this as part of a Rotary District Grant. With past search issues on land and in water, it will be good to know our police have modern tools to assist them."

Four Arlington police personnel will be trained and receive remote pilot certifications. Once certified, they will be able to operate the drone on behalf of the department for various tactical and operational purposes, as well as at community events.

The Rotary Club of Arlington became a chartered club in 1924. Club members are committed to its mission -- "Service Above Self."

Projects and organizations that the club supports include Arlington EATS, Arlington Boys and Girls Club, the Children's Room, Food Link, Fidelity House, Salvation Army, Bedford VA, the Beech Street Center-Council on Aging in Belmont, the Belmont Food Pantry, Visiting Nurse and Community Care - Arlington, Central Food Ministry - Lowell and Our Lady of the Assumption School - Lynnfield.

The club hosts Flags for Heroes each year, which helps fund three scholarships given annually to a student from Arlington High School, Arlington Catholic and Minuteman Career and Technical High School. In addition to local service the club supports End Polio Now, which is dedicated to eradicating polio.

Members of the Rotary Club of Arlington on Jan. 20. / APD photo 

This news summary was published Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, based on information from a news release by Leah Comins of John Guilfoil Public Relations.