Timely action by two members of the Corman Park Police Service (CPPS) is being credited with saving a man’s life during the bitterly cold overnight hours of January 2–3.
Shortly before midnight, police received multiple reports of a suspicious male walking along Highway 41 in the Rural Municipality of Corman Park who appeared to be inadequately dressed for the weather. Temperatures at the time were estimated between –20 and –24°C with the wind chill.
An officer responded and soon discovered fresh footprints leading away from the roadway and into an open field. Concerned for the man’s safety, the officer requested a second member for assistance and began a ground search on foot, following the tracks through the area.
When the second officer arrived, the CPPS Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS), commonly known as a drone, was deployed. Equipped with heat-detecting infrared capability, the drone was used to conduct a systematic aerial search while the first officer continued searching on the ground.
Working together, the officers located a 47-year-old man who had taken shelter inside a dumpster on a nearby property and had lost consciousness while intoxicated. Police assessed the man at the scene and transported him to cells to sober up.
Police say the coordinated approach, combining careful ground work with rapid drone deployment, was crucial in preventing serious cold-weather injury or death.
“This is an extraordinary example of the effectiveness of RPAS and the diligence of our officers working together to enhance public safety within the RM of Corman Park,” noted Corman Park Police Chief Robert Duttchen.
An aerial image captured by the drone shows the location where the man was found. Officers say the situation underscores the risks posed by extreme winter conditions and the importance of residents calling police when they see someone who may be in distress.
