In 2018, Black Hawk County implemented a small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) program to provide increased situational awareness, enhanced officer safety, and force multiplication for public safety operations in the county.
The Black Hawk Aerial Response Team (BHART) is intended to support law enforcement, fire service, emergency medical services, and emergency management personnel in:
- criminal apprehension
- search and rescue
- crime scene forensics
- accident scene forensics
- event security
- tactical operations
- structure fires
- outdoor fires
- post incident assessment
- disaster response
- community relations
We seek to enhance those missions through knowledgeable use of the latest unmanned aerial technologies, adherence to aviation protocols, and a continual deployment readiness. Services rendered to our customers and community will always be done in an expeditious manner and as much as possible, available on a perpetual basis.
As with all missions of the Black Hawk County public safety entities, sUAS activities will be conducted in a manner ensuring individual privacy and safety, in accordance with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws.