How Middletown Police Department Saved Over $4.7 Million by Using SkyeBrowse for Crash Scene Documentation
# How Middletown Police Department Saved $4.7M by Modernizing Crash Scene Documentation
Since 2020, law enforcement agencies have increasingly shifted their focus toward operational efficiency and officer safety. The Middletown Police Department took a significant step in this direction by modernizing their crash scene documentation process with drone technology in 2023. By implementing SkyeBrowse's videogrammetry solution, the department has transformed how they handle accident investigations while achieving remarkable cost savings and efficiency improvements.
"We were searching for a solution that could dramatically reduce our officers' exposure time at crash scenes while maintaining the quality and accuracy of our documentation," says Chief Michael Roberts of Middletown PD. "What we found with SkyeBrowse wasn't just a replacement for our laser scanners – it was a complete transformation of our workflow."
## The Challenge of Traditional Documentation
Before implementing SkyeBrowse, Middletown PD relied on traditional laser scanners for crash scene documentation. This method required five officers to spend an average of 2.5 hours at each scene, resulting in significant overtime costs and prolonged road closures. In 2023, the department documented 65 crashes using this approach, accumulating over 812 hours of officer time and $44,687 in overtime costs alone.
Beyond the direct costs, the extended road closures created substantial disruption for the community. Each crash scene affected approximately 1,000 vehicles per hour, with each delayed person representing $30 per hour in lost productivity. The traditional method also posed significant safety risks, as officers remained exposed to traffic and weather conditions for extended periods.
## Transforming Operations with SkyeBrowse
The implementation of SkyeBrowse's drone-based mapping solution brought immediate and dramatic improvements to Middletown PD's crash scene documentation process. The department could now complete scene documentation with just one officer in an average of 7.5 minutes – a 98% reduction in time spent at the scene.
"The transformation was immediate and dramatic," notes Lieutenant Sarah Chen, who oversees the department's traffic division. "What used to take our entire team hours to document can now be completed by a single officer in minutes, with even better accuracy than our old laser scanners."
## Measurable Impact and Cost Savings
The financial impact of implementing SkyeBrowse has been substantial. In the first year alone, Middletown PD realized:
The shift from traditional laser scanners to SkyeBrowse eliminated the need for a $55,000 scanner system and its $5,000 annual maintenance cost. Instead, the department invested in a $10,000 annual SkyeBrowse Premium subscription, which includes unlimited users and advanced features.
"When we look at the total impact – from overtime reduction to improved city productivity – the savings are remarkable," explains City Manager David Thompson. "We've saved over $4.7 million in the first year alone, while significantly improving our service to the community."
## Beyond the Numbers
The benefits of implementing SkyeBrowse extended far beyond financial savings. Officers report feeling significantly safer with reduced exposure time at crash scenes. The high-resolution 3D models generated by SkyeBrowse have proven invaluable in court proceedings, providing clear, accurate documentation that judges and juries can easily understand.
"The quality of documentation we get from SkyeBrowse is exceptional," says Traffic Investigator Mark Rodriguez. "We're capturing details we might have missed before, and we can review the scene thoroughly from any angle, long after we've cleared the road."
## Looking Ahead
Building on their success, Middletown PD plans to expand their use of SkyeBrowse technology to other aspects of law enforcement, including tactical planning and critical incident response. The department has already begun training additional officers on the system, with plans to integrate drone-based documentation into their standard operating procedures across multiple divisions.
"What started as a solution for crash scene documentation has evolved into a fundamental shift in how we approach scene documentation and planning," concludes Chief Roberts. "The efficiency and safety benefits we've seen have convinced us that this is the future of law enforcement operations."
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