by Nina Vaclavikova
Interview: Caterina de Gavardo, Trieste councilor for safety
The local police force in Trieste has added a new technological tool to its operations with the introduction of its first drone, aimed at improving efficiency and strengthening public safety.
Caterina de Gavardo, the city’s councilor for public safety policies, presented the unmanned aerial system, or UAS, alongside Police Chief Walter Milocchi at a press conference on Monday. The event also included Lucio Momic, senior commissioner overseeing the units that will operate the drone, Igor Kozman, deputy commissioner responsible for the building enforcement unit, and city council member Vincenzo Rescigno.
“The professionalism of our local police force has always been a strong point, but technological tools are increasingly essential for providing effective and modern services,” de Gavardo said. She cited previous investments in advanced technology by the police’s document verification unit and highlighted that the drone acquisition, supported by the Friuli Venezia Giulia regional government, included training for seven officers certified as drone pilots. The total cost of the drone and training was €29,000.
The drone is intended for use across multiple police units, including environmental enforcement, building inspection, the motorized unit, and judicial police. Officials said the drone could also be made available to external agencies such as civil protection services and firefighters.
“This is a significant investment. The drone has been tested to operate in temperatures from -20° to +50° Celsius, with a range of 25 kilometers,” de Gavardo said. “It can be piloted both within visual range and with observers stationed along its flight path.” She added that the drone will be stored at the local police headquarters and that updates will be maintained to ensure its long-term functionality.
The drone’s operations are designed to comply with municipal video surveillance regulations, and a dedicated internal manual has been created to standardize its use. Officials are also pursuing a “state flight” certification, which would allow the drone to operate in restricted areas using specialized technologies not available in the civilian sector.
Police Chief Milocchi expressed gratitude to the regional administration and to Councilman Rescigno for supporting the acquisition. He emphasized that the drone’s deployment aligns with data protection laws and that the tool will be versatile in its applications.
Deputy Commissioner Kozman outlined the drone’s technical specifications: it is equipped with an optical camera with zoom and wide-angle lenses, an infrared thermal camera, a laser rangefinder, and image stabilization technology. The drone has a maximum flight weight of 1,890 grams, an operational range of 25 kilometers, and can remain airborne for up to 42 minutes, with three batteries providing nearly two hours of flight time.
Seven police officers, including two commissioners, two inspectors, and three agents, were certified for urban drone operations after completing a training program regulated by ENAC, Italy’s civil aviation authority.
The UAS will primarily support investigative work, monitoring, search and rescue operations, and territorial oversight. It will also be available for tasks delegated by the public prosecutor or other government entities, in compliance with privacy laws and internal operating procedures. Specific uses include environmental inspections, building code enforcement, accident scene documentation, monitoring of hard-to-reach areas, missing person searches, and civil protection support.
Officials emphasized that the drone represents a long-term investment in technology to enhance the capabilities of Trieste’s local police while adhering to legal and ethical standards.
