Halo Summary:
Amarillo PD’s drone team was originally headed to Austin for a cold-case search but pivoted fast when Hill Country flooding struck. They became the first known unit to attempt using thermal drones to locate a missing person by detecting heat from decomposition, a technique never tested in real-world conditions. Their nine-mile Cow Creek scan delivered 12 heat signatures (including buried animals) proving the tech can work. While the mission didn’t locate the fallen fire chief, it showed departments nationwide how drones already in their arsenals could transform how and where we search. APD didn’t just respond-they pioneered.
“Guardian Angel” Drones for Schools
March 12, 2026 | The Texas Tribune
