Battle Creek police are in the skies over the city, flying drones.

Officers used one of two newly-purchased drones for the first time Thursday afternoon, photographing the scene of a two-vehicle crash on Dickman Road. The drone hovered over the roadway, taking still pictures and video of the crash scene.

Lt. Matt Robinson said the department began researching the possible purchase about 18 months ago and decided a year ago to purchase two of the aircraft for a total price of about $25,000 which includes the equipment and training and certification of five officers.

Robinson said officers were doing some practice flying earlier in the day Thursday and then were called to the site of the 3 p.m. crash.

Flying over crash and crime scenes will be one of the primary uses of the drones, Robinson said.

"The number one thing will be crime scene investigations by the lab," he said. "It gives us the ability to do an overview. Also we will use them for missing persons because it is so efficient.

"If we have a missing kid in a wooded area it will reduce the time it takes to search the area," he said.

He said one drone can be used to monitor crowds at major outdoor events or for events like when a car was lost in the Kalamazoo River a year ago.

"We can cover a large area," Robinson said.

He said the larger drone, with a better camera, is used for outdoor work, while a smaller unit can be used inside buildings in case police are searching for a barricaded gunman or the Bomb Squad is investigating a suspicious package.

Robinson said the drones could be used for surveillance but that would be limited.

"It is limited because it can only fly for short duration of 20 to 22 minutes of battery life and it has to be within the sight of the pilot which is too short and too close for effective surveillance.

"I don't want the public to think this is going to be a eye in the sky because it can't," he said. "It just doesn't work. That is not the role that is going to fit for us.

"People have some concerns for Big Brother but that is not this technology. Maybe in 20 or 30 years but that is not the role we are going to use it for."

While many are concerned about drone surveillance, Prosecutor David Gilbert said while the technology may be new, the laws that apply haven't changed much.

"The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable search and seizure and people are protected against surveillance in homes," he said, and that covers the use of drones.

"They have the same rules as any other type of surveillance and as long as you are not violating a constitutional right you can be where you want."

But Robinson said because of battery life and because the FAA restricts the drones to under 400 feet – they are most effective at altitudes of 300 feet or less – they are not practical for undetected surveillance.

Any time before the drone flies, the department must contact the tower at the W.K. Kellogg Airport and all flights must be approved by command officers from the police department.

The drones will be used instead of trying to call in a helicopter from the Michigan State Police, which is costly and they are not always available, Robinson said.

He said the drones could be used in the future with infrared cameras to search buildings for hot spots for the fire department or if equipped with sensors fly over areas like a train derailment to determine what might be leaking from a damaged car.

Officers are now practicing to become comfortable with the drones so they are able to prepare them for flight during stressful situations and collecting useful pictures and videos.

"The biggest benefit beyond search and rescue is the ability to present to prosecutors and juries that this is what the scene looks like and where everything was. It will be like they can walk into a crime scene."

Contact Trace Christenson at 269-966-0685 or tchrist@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @TSChristenson