Routt County commissioners on Tuesday approved inclusion of a $9,000 grant for the county’s 2025 budget for purchase of a thermal imaging drone for the Routt County Sheriff’s Office.

The grant, which the Colorado Bureau of Investigation awarded to the sheriff’s office in January, will go toward purchase of a FLIR SIRAS Drone produced by Teledyne FLIR designs. 

The drone includes thermal imaging technology primarily used for government, law enforcement and public safety purposes.

According to the Teledyne FLIR website, the company “strives to strengthen public safety and well-being, increase energy and time efficiency, and contribute to healthy and intelligent communities.”

The SIRAS Drone includes a thermal and visible camera that assists in firefighting, law enforcement and search-and-rescue missions, according to the company’s website.

The website further states that the drone is designed for data security and features front-collision avoidance, hot-swappable batteries, a 31-minute flight time and no restrictive geofencing.

During the commissioners’ hearing Tuesday, Routt County Sheriff Doug Scherar noted the Steamboat Springs Police Department has a drone “exactly” like the one the sheriff’s office will purchase.

Scherar added that the sheriff’s chose this specific drone because it is easy to operate, and personnel with both agencies know how to use both drones.

According to Scherar, the sheriff’s office has used the police department’s drone for calls where a drone would be useful, like canvassing an area for an offender on the run.

The drone will assist in finding missing persons using its thermal imaging camera, Scherar noted.

The agency anticipates using the drone frequently, added Scherar. Currently, the police department’s drone is used a couple of times per month.

The sheriff’s office was one of nine law enforcement agencies across Colorado to receive a total of $89,141 in funding dispersed through the CBI’s “Persons Who Wander Grant.” 

The grant program, established in Colorado in 2022, assists law enforcement agencies with recovery programs by providing nearly $90,000 every year for drones and GPS tracking fobs or watches, according to a January news release.

According to Scherar, the purchase of the drones and parts required will cost about $8,600, and the CBI grant will cover all expenses. He added that the county has already received the grant money.

The approval of the inclusion of the grant in the county’s budget does not require any extra funds from the county.

“With 100% of the funds coming from elsewhere, it’s a pretty easy supplemental (budget item). We don’t need to find those resources,” said Routt County Commissioner Sonja Macys during the commissioners’ hearing. 

According to Scherar, following the unanimous approval of including the grant in the budget, the sheriff’s office intends to purchase and receive the drone as soon as possible.