New drone added to Bath police fleet

by Laura Bednar

Aug. 24 township trustees meeting

The Bath Township Police Department is adding another drone to its fleet of four, thanks to a donation from Roger Mortimer of Ohio Drone Repair.

This is the third drone Mortimer has donated to the department. It is a DJI Mavic 4T crash-mapping drone, which is built for professional inspection, public safety and search-and-rescue operations, according to DJI Enterprise.

Police Chief/Township Administrator Vito Sinopoli said the drone will be used at scenes of vehicle crashes to take images. The drone will be paired with DJI Terra mapping software to create two-dimensional and three-dimensional models of the crash. Sinopoli explained that the software requires a specific drone to take images. The drone would have cost $7,800.

The drone also has thermal imaging capabilities, which Sinopoli said officers can use to search for lost people by scanning areas for body heat.

The Bath Fire Department hired two part-time firefighters. Jared Lee is also a paramedic, and Zachary Shroka is an EMT who at the time of the meeting was waiting for results of his test to be a paramedic, according to Interim Fire Chief John Rodriguez.

Rodriguez said Lee has a long history of fire work; Shroka has less experience but will work with a mentor in the department.

Township trustees approved paying $22,000 to Terry’s Truck & Trailer Equipment for the purchase of snow and ice control equipment for a parks department pickup truck. Parks Director Jeff France said having the equipment for another truck will make snow removal smoother if parking spaces are added at township parks.