In February 2023, Mentor Police Department added a new unit to their roster of specialty teams with the establishment of the Mentor Drone Team.
Three new drone pilots; Sgt. Steve Ondercin, Pt. Shawn Wilson and Pt. Logan Hanreck, joined Capt. Robert Valley (Team Commander), and Det. Brian Yenkevich, who are both FAA licensed pilots serving with the Lake County Public Safety UAS Team since 2018.
Advancements in UAS (unmanned ariel systems) technology have given public safety agencies a cost-effective means to increase awareness and safety for first responders during critical incidents. Drones have proven to be extremely effective in search and rescue, hazardous material and dangerous ordnance identification, fugitive search and support, crime scene imagery, accident reconstruction, fire investigations and night-time operations. With high-definition cameras, thermal imaging, and spotlights, the drone team can provide visual support over large areas, at night, or when it is too dangerous to send in first responders.
The Mentor Drone Team provides support to all other specialty units. Their drones have the capability to stream video footage to ground units or command to assist with tactical planning and decision making during critical incidents.
In 2023, the team assisted with missing persons, crime and accident scene mapping. They also assisted tactical units at the Mentor Green Mobile Home Park incident and the Mentor Fire Department in identifying hot spots in the field fires which were sparked last summer near the Painesville border.
Some of the drone equipment used by the Mentor Drone Team was obtained with grant funding through the Lake County Public Safety UAS Team which also provides training and additional UAS equipment and pilots as needed.
Residents are advised that our drone pilots go through a variety of training to include FAA laws and regulations, flight operations using various drones, indoor searches, search and rescue and geo-spatial imagery.
The Mentor Drone Team respects the privacy of all citizens and follows all laws and regulations regarding privacy.