Kennewick, Washington — Kennewick Police announced they have received a $30,000 grant from the Washington State Auto Theft Prevention Authority to combat auto crime.

Kennewick Police Chief Isaac Merkl tells us the funds will be used to purchase additional unmanned aerial systems, or drones. He explains, “Drones have become an important part of the tools we can provide our officers and the community for public safety, and this grant is extremely important to be able to fund those tools that would not otherwise have been in the budget.”

According to Kennewick Police, there were more than 40,000 car thefts statewide in 2023. We’re told that number will slowly decrease for 2024 thanks to continued support.

Commander Merkl explains that drones have become an increasingly important tool for officers in the field. We’re told that officers have used drones to assist in car thefts, by tracking suspects fleeing stolen vehicles and by ensuring there are no suspects hiding in a stolen vehicle. “When you think about a vehicle hit and run, you have to weigh the circumstances and decide if the risk to the public is worth it. So sometimes we’ll start a chase with a stolen vehicle but end it for safety reasons. When we have resources like drones to help us continue those investigations and ultimately find suspects, especially if they fled on foot and we lost sight of them, it’s very important for us to hold those offenders accountable,” Merkl continues.

Officers explain that the bird’s eye view can not only help locate the suspect, but also help officers gain the upper hand.

“It’s a very low-cost example of air support. A helicopter or airplane program would be very expensive. The cost-effectiveness of the drone compared to what it does for public safety for both the officers and the community is remarkable. And this tool provides a bird’s eye view and allows officers to get where they need to be. It’s also a force multiplier that allows us to get those officers to the important spots while the drone does the surveillance work,” Commander Merkl tells us.

Kennewick police say grants like the one from the Auto Prevention Authority of Washington give officers here in the Tri-Cities a huge advantage. Officials tell us that with these unmanned aerial systems, they can provide air support to all local agencies.

Commander Isaac Merkl continued, “This means a lot to us. Ultimately, these grants were approved by the legislature for distribution, and over 40 agencies across Washington will benefit. These tools are critical to enabling us to fulfill our mission of professional policing, and a drone is just another piece of that puzzle.”