Provo Police discuss future use of drones at Coffee (or Cocoa) with a police officer

On Wednesday, May 29, Provo Police officers gathered at the Starbucks inside Target in the Provo Towne Centre shopping centre to share snacks and drinks with passersby.

Provo police have held “Coffee (or Cocoa) with a Cop” and similar events to give people the opportunity to talk to police officers and see that they are regular people, said Brian Wolken, captain of the Provo Police Department and commander of the Special Operations Division.

The officers present are part of the department’s outreach team, he explained. Their job is to attend such events and establish contact with the public, he said.

“We have done this event in the past,” he said. “Target contacted us and asked if we would be willing to participate.”

At the event, participants had the opportunity to talk to the officers and ask them all kinds of questions. In addition to warm drinks and breakfast pastries, the police also handed out stickers, pencils and pens.

“A lot of people want to know about crime statistics… they want to know about the police,” Wolken said.

People also ask police officers about the recruitment and process of becoming a police officer, he explained.

“Most people have little or no contact with the police unless it is a traffic stop or something similar,” Wolken said.

Provo police conduct these activities so people can see that they are “not the bad guys, but normal people,” Wolken said.

Target employee and security manager Zac Sutton shared his thoughts on the event.

“I think it’s good to stay informed and know what’s going on in your community and who’s working there,” he said.

Wolken explained that the Provo Police Department is holding four events during the summer called “Brats with Cops.” The event will feature a barbecue and give people the opportunity to come by and share, he said.

Wolken shared some news from the Provo Police Department, including crime rates.

“We are actually one of the safest cities in the country,” he said.

Theft is quite common, Wolken explained. However, overall crime is very low, he added.

Wolken is also the air support team leader. He was responding to recent news that Colorado police are using drones to help decide whether or not to deploy officers to emergency calls.

“We can use drones outside of visual range in an emergency and are currently working on a so-called first responder drone,” he said.

Provo police have received permission from the airport to use drones. They have “about half a dozen different drones” that they can “send as far as they want,” he explained.

Another feature some of their drones have, Wolken said, is thermal imaging. They have already used it to find people in mountain foothills, he said.

“We found a suspect hiding in some bushes near the temple who we would not have discovered with normal flashlights or otherwise,” Wolken said.

Provo police will use drones for search and rescue, mapping traffic accidents, and taking photos and videos, among other things, he said. Wolken said the drones will help determine exactly how many officers need to go where, rather than sending a whole team with all the equipment.

Another example that used clouds was the use of drones to search for missing hikers. They used a drone to find missing mountain climbers using thermal imaging cameras.

Wolken confirmed that the authority does not use the drones to monitor or investigate crimes. They would respond to crimes and “take proactive action against missing persons.”

“It’s the future,” said Wolken.

In addition to “Coffee (or Cocoa) with a Cop” and “Brats with Cops,” there are other events that the Provo Police Department offers, Wolken explained. Twice a year, they host a Citizens Academy where they teach citizens about the police department. They also host “Cops with Bobbers,” where they teach third, fourth and fifth graders how to fish.

Target has also held events in the past to connect the community with local police departments, said Tanessa Brower, Target’s senior team leader. There will be one this Christmas where Target will help buy coats and boots for children and also involve local police.

It just helps “that people from the community can come and talk to the police officers and ask them any questions they want to get to know their police,” she added.

“It also helps build a relationship between target and PD,” she said.

The Provo Police Department will announce its future outreach events on social media.