The Illinois State Police received authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration on Friday to conduct Unmanned Aircraft System missions throughout the state.  The ISP has spent the past two years developing the program to ensure safety and compliance with all FAA and statutory requirements.  As part of the FAA certification process, all aspects of the program have been assessed, including policies, operating procedures, pilot qualifications, training and safety.  The UAS is a small aircraft remotely controlled by a certified pilot at all times while in flight, and can terminate or modify the mission based on changing information or conditions.  The primary function of the ISP’s UAS program is to enhance the documentation of traffic crash scenes and crime scenes.   The ability to obtain accurate measurements and clear images from aerial photographs will significantly reduce the amount of time highways are closed during the initial investigation of major traffic crashes.  Illinois law allows law enforcement agencies to use a UAS only in certain circumstances, such as natural disasters, searches for missing persons, documenting traffic crashes and crime scenes, or if the Department of Homeland Security identifies a specific risk of terrorism.  The ISP UAS program is not being implemented for surveillance purposes.  Except in emergency situations, a search warrant must be obtained before the UAS can be used on private property.  Any information gathered by the UAS must be destroyed after 30 days, and must not be disclosed unless reasonable suspicion exists that the information contains evidence of criminal activity, or is relevant to an ongoing investigation.