County Purchases Tactical Robot for Law Enforcement

Fayette County purchased a tactical robot to be used by law enforcement and other first responders. The County purchased the robot through a grant funded by the United States Department of Justice and administered by the Governor’s Office.

The robot is a Vantage F3 manufactured by the company Transcend Tactical. According to the manufacturer, the robot features a night vision, infrared and a pan-tilt-zoom cameras.

The robot can operate for three hours continuously or 12 hours on stand-by. It can climb stairs and drive over obstacles. The robot can also be equipped with an option gas delivery system.

Fayette County Emergency Management Chief Craig Moreau said the robot could be used by law enforcement during dangerous criminal encounters such as the 2018 Carter Motel shooting that left Fayette County Sheriff’s Deputy C.J. Lehmann blind in both eyes. At the time, officers did not know the suspect was armed with a shotgun before breaking down his door. Moreau said the robot could have given officers better awareness of the threat.

“This type of system can be used in many roles, but is most beneficial when it protects an officer or other first responder from entering a dangerous environment,” Moreau said. “They can also be used in hazardous environments such as certain haz-mat, biological and similar situations.”

Transcend Tactical lists the price of the Vantage robot at $25,000. Moreau told the Record last Thursday that the County has ordered the robot and is waiting on delivery. Moreau said the County is also working on a grant to purchase rifle-resistant body armor for the Sheriff’s Office.

The body armor currently worn by deputies can withstand bullets from handguns. The new armor will provide additional protection from high-powered rifles.