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Massachusetts State Police are putting innovative technology to work, including a robotic dog and flying drone that were recently put into use in a standoff on I-495.
Many law enforcement departments, including Massachusetts State Police, are adopting technology to help de-escalate tense scenes and obtain information to make strategic decisions to avoid a potential deadly encounter
NBC10 Sky Ranger was above in June when state police surrounded a pickup truck involved in a deadly shooting during a standoff on Interstate 495
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Because the windows were heavily tinted, police say they could not see the man inside, so they sent in a robot dog to break a hole in the window
Aerial footage shows law enforcement using technology as the situation on the highway in Lowell, Massachusetts, unfolded Tuesday.
“Just using the arm didn’t have enough force to actually punch it, so we deployed the arm forward and then walked Spot into the window,” explained Trooper John Ragosa, of the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad, referring to the robotic dog by its name
“Rather put this in, if we can, and risk losing this as opposed to putting a trooper initially in harm’s way,” said Lt. Brian Mahoney, of the Massachusetts State Police Drone Unit.`
NBC10 Boston
NBC10 Boston
The state police robot dog that works out of the State Fire Marshal’s Office is named Spot
“If a robot or drone gets hurt, it’s not a huge deal,” Ragosa said
Spot can open doors, go up and down stairs and pick things up. “Looks around corners, if you have to look under a bed,” added Ragosa. It’s difficult to kick over, too, as Ragosa demonstrated
The aerial drone unit can navigate in tight spaces and go from room to room
“It’s getting eyes inside. It’s putting a device inside a structure,” explained Ragosa, “giving that information back to those who have to make decisions.”
But the technology has seen job hazards. In 2024, the first Massachusetts State Police robot dog, who went by Roscoe, was taken out of service following a standoff in Barnstable
“The person was able to flip Spot over again and shot Spot three times,” said Ragosa. “Instead of sending a person in live, we can save a person’s life, potentially.”
Massachusetts State Police
Massachusetts State Police
The troopers say the technology is their tool – but they still take on a personality
“He looks at people kind of funny … I know, buddy, you are kinda scared,” joked Ragosa, while petting the robot
Even K9 Clue, a living dog who works in bomb detection, has learned to embrace the future
“He doesn’t take him for walks or anything but, yeah, they are buddies,” Ragosa said
State police have two Spot robot dogs, one on either end of the state
The drone unit has about five operators. Both units are on call 24-7
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