The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has awarded the Routt County Sheriff’s Office a $9,000 grant for the purchase of a drone, according to a news release.

The sheriff’s office was one of nine law enforcement agencies across Colorado to receive a total of $89,141 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 the news release.

“The Persons Who Wander grant program is critical in supporting law enforcement agencies in their efforts to keep our communities safe,” said Chris Schaefer, Director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation in a statement. “These grants will provide them with the resources they need to quickly locate missing persons, especially those who may be vulnerable and prone to wandering.”

The grant awarded to the Routt County Sheriff’s Office is for a FLIR SIRAS Drone, produced by Teledyne FLIR designs, and 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.

Editor’s note: This article was updated. While the grant has been awarded to the Routt County Sheriff’s Office, the drone has not yet been purchased.