CENTRAL ILLINOIS POLICE TRAINING CENTER
Brian Fengel, Director
Phone: (309) 690-7355
Fax: (309) 690-7359
Heather Grove: hgrove@icc.edu
Jean Swan: jswan@icc.edu
Robert Pyszka: rp717@icc.edu
Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (DRONES) in Law Enforcement
Instructor: Chris Edwards & Chris Carrier
September 8-11, 2025
8am – 4pm
Class will meet at Peru PD, 2650 N. Peoria Street, Peru, IL
Enrollment Deadline: September 1, 2025
Max 20
Course Objectives-
Identify the following: All state and federal laws pertaining to Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS); different types of airspace; weather and weather-related conditions including cloud formations, types of fog, and wind conditions and how they play a role in the flight of a sUAS; loading and performance factors; airport and airfield standards, including left traffic patterns, METARS, TAFs, sectional charts, longitude and latitude; crew resource management, including types of attitudes, visual observers, Remote Pic, and the effects of drugs and alcohol; radio communication including 2.4 and 5 GHz, AWOS, ASOS, licensed frequencies, and CTAF; Emergency, Lost-Link, and Flyaway procedures; launch and recovery; and Plan B and C.
✓ Perform the procedures for: Vertical takeoff and landing, basic flight maneuvers, recording video, taking still images, autonomous flights, pre-flight and maintenance, equipment replacement, record-keeping, pre- and post-flight inspection, and logbook maintenance.
✓ Gain the necessary knowledge and skills to test for and earn the FAA certification for sUAS Operator.
✓ Understand the Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act.
This training will introduce officers to the use of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS), commonly called “drones”, for both evidence collection and search operations. The course will cover all aspects of UAS operations, including preparations for the mandatory FAA Part 107 licensing. It will include information on the necessary waiver to fly in populated areas and night operation of drones. Hands-on experience with full-sized drones will give officers the confidence and ability to operate in a safe manner. Evidence collections in both photo and video format will be addressed, as well as the legal aspects of how to handle and store this information, as it differs from standard photo/video collection rules.
Finally, the Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act, ILCS 725/167 will be discussed to provide officers and their departments with a clear understanding about operating drones within the con-fines of the law, including the mandate to inform the State about maintenance and flight operations. Upon completion of this course, attendees will possess the knowledge to successfully take and pass their Part 107 FAA pilot’s exam to become a licensed pilot. They will also be able to assist in creating proper departmental policies and procedures for operating drones.
Flight location will be a location to be determined.
The FAA Part 107 exam is not part of the course. The exam must be taken at an FAA approved testing center. Cost of the Unmanned Aircraft General exam is currently $175.00
See attached for the training centers –
https://ciptc-mtu7.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/FAA-Testing-Centers.pdf
Equipment Needed
NONE-
Officers who wish to learn to fly their agency’s sUAS may bring it to class, with a minimum of two batteries, although there will be UAS’s provided by the instructor for the pilot training part of the class.
About the Instructor:
Chris Edwards, Associate Professor at Rend Lake College, the primary instructor for this class, holds an AAS degree in Information Technology from Rend Lake College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and a Master’s Degree in Cybersecurity from Liberty University. He is a licensed as a Remote Pilot by the FAA. Chris teaches in the Information Technology Division at Rend Lake, with an emphasis on Cybersecurity and Computer Forensics. He has developed the sUAS curriculum for the college. Chris has taught a related series of courses for over three3 years and has added several other courses to the curriculum.
Mobile In-Service Training Team # 7 Illinois Enforcement Training and Standards Board
MTU #7 request for certification of this course has been approved by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board
Meets the following mandatory training criteria: Civil Rights 1 hour, Const. Use of LE Authority 4 hours, Legal Updates 1 hour, Procedural Justice 1 hour, Officer safety techniques, including cover, concealment and time 1 hour
