The Mt. Carmel Police Department’s newest law enforcement tool is now in operation. The MCPD now has a drone to help in a variety of areas. It is being operated by officer Paris Pennington who has experience flying drones while he was in the military. Police Chief Mike McWilliams can be shared with other departments including the fire department to help with thermal imaging in the event of a fire. But Mayor Joe Judge stressed one steadfast rule when it comes to using the drone…

McWilliams said the drone would have been very useful during the recent high speed chase through four counties. Instead, it was a two hour wait on an Illinois State Police airplane from Springfield.