Kingston Police use thermal camera to quickly locate missing person

On Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, Kingston Police successfully located a missing person in a short time frame using drone technology.

Those in the area of Belle Park reported an increased police presence in the area along the K&P trail in the park. Area residents also reported drone activity. Kingstonist inquired about this with Kingston Police and was informed police would be issuing a media release on the matter in the near future, which they did on the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023.

According to that release, at approximately 5:40 a.m. on Monday, Kingston Police received a call regarding concerns for the well-being of a 28-year-old. Police said the individual was last seen entering a wooded area near Railway Street and Montreal Street.

Patrol officers responded to the area and, after an initial investigation, “concern for the individual escalated,” police relayed. During follow-up inquiries from Kingstonist, police indicated that the person had entered the wooded area around the time Kingston Police were called. The missing person was in a vulnerable state, police clarified, and there were concerns for their well-being and safety, as they may have been a danger to themselves. As such, the Kingston Police Emergency Response Unit (ERU) was called out to begin a search, police stated. A short time later, the drone was deployed by the Traffic Safety Unit to assist in the search.

According to the release, the drone was used to fly over a wooded area south of Railway Street and west of Montreal Street. Through the drone’s thermal camera, a body heat signature was located. Police said that Patrol and ERU were directed to the person’s location and found the individual who was in good health.

In response to Kingstonist inquiries, Constable Ash Gutheinz, Media Relations Officer for Kingston Police, said that the person was located by approximately 9:10 a.m. on Monday — a little over three hours after police received the initial call.