Professor takes criminal justice education to new heights with drone certification

John White, San Jacinto College criminal justice professor, completed drone certification training at the College’s EDGE Center. Sharing his new expertise with students will give them a competitive edge in the workforce. 

Drones, also known as unmanned aircraft systems by the Federal Aviation Administration, are widely used in military and civilian contexts.  

 A valuable skill  

“The use of [drones] is almost mandatory for even the smallest of public safety departments,” said Robert Boettcher, EDGE Center instructor. 

 Taking the course was a strategic move as White believes instructors need firsthand experience in the skills they recommend to students. 

Thanks to grant funding, the criminal justice program bought a drone to familiarize students with drone skills and legal aspects.  

“Drones are becoming critical tools in public safety situations, such as searching for escaped inmates or gathering evidence,” White said.  

Drones can reduce the time needed to investigate car accident scenes, for example.  

“[Drones benefit] the public by clearing the road again for travel and allowing the department to use this extra time to close investigations more quickly,” Boettcher said. “They are equipped with a variety of sensors that can capture visual, thermal, and lidar, and that data can be used to reconstruct a 3D model of a crime scene.” 

Why is training important?

Drones are not toys. 

“Operating an aircraft can be quite challenging,” Boettcher said. “It requires knowledge of different subjects, such as regulations, weather, human factors, risk analysis and more. But the most important reason why training is important is for the unexpected ... a competent instructor will help ensure the pilots make the right decision at the right time when something out of the ordinary happens.”  

The EDGE Center course emphasizes real-time piloting rather than simulations. Students practice outside, navigating around obstacles and following flight paths on a screen.  

Drone operation comes with rules, responsibilities, and real-world consequences.  

“You have to consider privacy regulations, the Fourth Amendment, Supreme Court case laws, and search and seizure,” White said. “I knew there would be FAA regulations, but I didn't know there were so many. The FAA controls airspace and the safety of our airways. You can’t just operate them outside leisurely without knowing the guidelines.” 

To fly a drone commercially, an FAA license is required. Recreational drone users must also pass a safety test and carry proof of certification.  

Drone certification is a practical skill that adds value in many fields, but you must learn the basics — the difference between recreational and commercial, safety, how high they can fly, and what areas are off limits. 

White learned more than he imagined.  

Now it’s not just something I’ve heard of but something I’ve accomplished, and it gives me a new thing to teach the students that is relevant to their other coursework. 

The EDGE Center also provides a Flight Operations course that expands upon the knowledge of the FAA Remote Pilot Certificate. The class prerequisite is either successfully completing the Part 107 exam prep course or holding a current FAA Remote Pilot Certificate. 

“[The Flight Operations course] includes additional safety, awareness of local laws, and the opportunity to fly drones in a safe environment indoors,” said Clint Harris, director, aviation and aerospace education workforce development. “This offers students the opportunity to practice flight maneuvers under the observation of an experienced instructor.” 

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About San Jacinto College

Surrounded by monuments of history, evolving industries, maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has served the people of East Harris County, Texas, since 1961. The College is ranked second in the nation among more than 1,100 community colleges, as designated by the Aspen Institute and was named an Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction in 2020. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution that spans five campuses, plus an online college, San Jacinto College serves approximately 45,000 credit and non-credit students annually. It offers more than 200 degrees and certificates across eight major areas of study that put students on a path to transfer to four-year institutions or enter the workforce. The College is fiscally sound, holding bond ratings of AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and Aa2 by Moody’s. San Jacinto College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.