Paramedic Eric Duckwall and his family named their German Shepherd-mix puppy Berkeley, after their hometown in West Virginia. She quickly became part of the family, spoiled and loved as all dogs should be, Duckwall recalls.
But at just 4 months old, Berkeley went missing.
“We were cautious around the 4th of July fireworks, but a few days later, our guard slipped,” Duckwall told me. “As soon as Berkeley stepped outside, a neighbor’s fireworks exploded overhead. Startled, she bolted: running in frantic laps before disappearing into the woods,” he said. “Thankfully she had an Apple Air Tag on her collar, but in our rural area, it only pinged sporadically.”
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The family launched an exhausting, all-hands on deck search for the puppy over the coming days.
“We drove, hiked and enlisted the help of neighbors, many of whom graciously let us scour their property. Nights were sleepless,” Duckwall said. He even camped on the family porch, hoping she’d come home.
Days passed and with brief signals and glimpses of Berkeley, but she remained in flight mode.
“At one point, a friend suggested a professional with a thermal drone who helped find another lost dog,” Duckwall said. “He wasn’t local, and the cost was high, but we were willing to try anything.”
While waiting for the for the drone service to arrive, fate intervened.
“We spotted Berkeley after another Air Tag ping,” Duckwall said.
With the help of neighbors and some strangers, they managed to guide the dog toward her home.
“Finally, after days of searching, she was back where she belonged; safe, though with a few minor injuries from her adventure,” Duckwall reported.
The experience was eye-opening, Duckwall recalled. With the proper equipment, they could have located Berkeley faster, spared her injuries and sparing their family days of heartache.
That moment reignited a conversation the Duckwalls had had years earlier. This time, instead of dismissing the idea, they decided to act, and ResQOps Drone Services was born.
ResQOps’ mission
Duckwall served in the United States Air Forces and currently serves in the West Virginia Air National Guard as a senior master sergeant. He has been with the National Guard for 18 years, contributing to his extensive leadership, training and operational experience.
In addition to his military service, Duckwall has 18 years in emergency services, including 3 years as an EMT, 10 years as a firefighter/paramedic and 5 years as a rotor-wing critical care flight paramedic; and has served since 2007 in his hometown as a paramedic for Morgan County EMS.
He has been flying drones recreationally for over 2 years, primarily for enjoyment. “In my current role as a flight paramedic, I’ve gained valuable knowledge of airflow, aircraft mechanics, terminology and airspace considerations — all of which directly translate to safe and effect drone operations,” he said.
Duckwall studied and prepared himself to successfully complete the Federal Aviation Administration’s Part 107 Remote Pilot certification for small, unmanned aircraft systems.
While Duckwall is the primary drone pilot, his wife Shannell plays an essential role in every operation, often serving as the official aircraft observer, an important safety role in drone operations.
“It’s very much a team effort,” Duckwall reports.
ResQOps Drone Services’ primary mission is search, rescue and public safety, including:
- Search and rescue. Locating lost persons, pets and livestock
- Wildfire assessment. Mapping total area involvement and identifying hotspots
- Hazard materials. Detecting thermal escapes or closely inspecting containers for contents and structural compromise
- Law enforcement support. Aiding in suspect location, dwelling reconnaissance or detection of suspicious packages using heat signatures
“At ResQOps Drone Services, the priority will always be search and rescue and public safety missions, but our technology also allows us to deliver exceptional value in a variety of other industries,” Duckwall noted, including:
- Storm damage assessment
- Real estate photography and videography
- Sportsman’s assistance
Duckwall says drones are essentially small flying robots, most commonly a quadcopter with four propellers.
“The propellers act like fans, spinning fast enough to create lift so the drone can fly. By changing the speed of each propeller independently, the drone can move in any directions or hover in place,” Duckwall explained.
Drones are powered by high-capacity batteries, which act as their fuel. With multiple batteries available, flight time can be extended almost indefinitely by rotating and recharging as needed.
ResQOps’ drone is equipped with advanced technology, including:
- An 8K high-definition camera with a 150X zoom that captures stunning close-up images and video from long distances with precision and clarity
- A thermal imaging camera, easily detecting heat signatures for locating people, pets, livestock, or hotspots in a wildfire and hazardous environments
- An infrared lens providing visibility in total darkness and blackout conditions
- A laser rangefinder which accurately measures distances over 1 mile for precise locating and mapping
ResQOps’ drone can be deployed in under 30 seconds when time is critical, with an average launch time of just 2 minutes and 38 seconds.
Integrating drones into public safety
Duckwall sees ResQOps Drone Services becoming a standard asset within the emergency services industry. While some jurisdictions have already integrated drones in their response matrix, Duckwall says the technology is still underutilized even with its proven value.
“Drones have the potential to provide critical support every single day across the public safety spectrum — whether for search and rescue, disaster assessment or tactical response,” Duckwall said.
He added that as the company grows, he plans to add additional staff, including drone pilots and support staff dedicated to the operation and driven by teamwork, passion and the mission of serving the community.
“At the heart of this mission lies my true passion, reuniting families and pets with their loved ones,” Duckwall said. “That is the driving purpose behind ResQOps- bringing loved one’s home.”
