The Harris County Sheriff’s office is using innovation to enhance safety in the field by pairing drones and K-9 units to help located suspects more efficiently and to protect deputies on the ground, the department said in a November 7 press release.

The partnership allows the drone’s aerial view to act as a guide, scanning open fields, rooms, windows, and doorways to direct the K-9 exactly where to go. Working together, the drone and the dog can clear a structure before deputies ever step inside, adding a crucial layer of protection during searches.

“There’s just more eyes,” said Sgt. Chris Moore, a veteran K-9 handler with 14 years of experience. “The more tools you can bring to bear when you’re looking for a suspect in a building with the SWAT team or someone who fled police on the ground, the safer and more effective the operation becomes.”

The concept took months of training and patience. Spt. Moore began testing this method earlier this year, acclimating K-9s to follow the movement and light of the drone during search operations.

“If there are areas the drone can’t reach, that’s when we rely on the dog’s nose,” Moore said. “We want to do whatever it takes to do our jobs better.”

From the skies above to the ground below, the drone and K-9 partnership reflects the Sheriff’s Office’s ongoing commitment to innovation, officer safety and service to the residents of Harris County, the press release said.