Orland Park police get approval from FAA to use drone

ORLAND PARK, Ill. (AP) — Police in the Chicago suburb of Orland Park say they have permission from the Federal Aviation Administration to use a drone.

The Daily Southtown reports that Orland Park police will have a half-dozen officers train to pilot the drone. Authorities say they mainly see the drone being helpful in search-and-rescues, looking for missing persons or tracking fugitives.

Police Chief Tim McCarthy calls it "another tool in the tool box." He says police would have to get a search warrant from a judge to use the drone for surveillance in a criminal investigation.

The police chief says officers won't fly the drone at night and the department has to file a report with the FAA every time the drone is used. The department will have to be recertified after two years.