Located in southern New Hampshire near the Massachusetts border, the town of Pelham presents unique challenges for its police department. With dense woodlands, power line corridors, and a mix of residential and commercial areas, officers often find themselves searching vast territories in low-light conditions where traditional visibility tools fall short.

For Corporal Cody Halliday of the Pelham Police Department, thermal imaging technology represents an essential piece of equipment that directly impacts officer safety and operational effectiveness. Drawing on his 11 years of experience in the National Guard, where he extensively utilized thermal systems, primarily larger mounted systems, Halliday brings a unique perspective to law enforcement applications of thermal technology and helps train officers on the range of ways thermal can be used. 

“When using thermal imaging, there are a ton of applications, and we often get tunnel vision on what thermal capabilities can do,” said Halliday. “They can do a lot, day or night. You just need to know how to apply it, use it, and then you know best practices.” 

Portability and Palette Options

The Scout Pro's compact design addresses a critical need for law enforcement officers who already carry numerous tools. 

"Keeping it about the size of a cargo pocket, I think, is ideal," Halliday notes. "Especially for law enforcement, we have so many tools on us, and we have such limited space to carry things. I want to be able to grab that from a cruiser bag and throw it in my cargo pocket.” 

This portability became crucial during a recent investigation where a suspect fled into dense woods. 

"It was a burglary suspect who ran into a treeline after we had set a perimeter," Halliday recalls. "Just having that camera with us, especially in a high-stakes call like that. Often, burglary suspects are armed. It gets very dangerous when we start going into the woods and we can't see what's going on."

Superior Performance, Simplified Operation 

Halliday contrasted the Scout Pro with other units the department used. Law enforcement applications demand simplicity above all else. “The Scout Pro auto-adjusts quickly with no lag, which is super helpful because it takes that guesswork out of it. I need to be able to use it in the dark without looking at the buttons, and I need to be able to do it just for safety." 

The Scout Pro's 32-degree field of view, which is wider than competing thermal imaging monoculars, also impressed the veteran officer. 

"That wider field of view compared to other units, it doesn't feel like you're looking through a tunnel.

Night patrols  

The Scout Pro has become an integral part of Halliday's routine patrol duties. 

"Even when I'm on patrol, I'll check a parking lot real quick. Let's say it’s two in the morning, I would look to see if a car is running that shouldn't be there because we’ve had catalytic converter thefts, people stealing parts, or staging for some other crime."

When Halliday spots a running vehicle in a closed parking lot during the early morning hours, it immediately raises red flags. 

"That stands out. That's odd. Why is that car running in this parking lot at two in the morning? It's been closed for six plus hours. They shouldn't be there. So now I can go touch base and I know someone's there without getting surprised."

Distraction-Free K9 Operations  

Halliday and other department officers often work with canine units from neighboring agencies when they need support to find suspects or missing persons. The Scout Pro proves especially valuable in support of K9 operations. 

"During searches with K9s, you don't want to backlight the officer or the dog because it's unsafe. Suspects then know your location, but more importantly, it's distracting for the dogs," Halliday explained. "Having a Flir is spectacular because instead of having to use a flashlight or walking around in the dark in the woods, you can use a thermal and scan. You're giving no light signature, and it doesn't affect the dog."

As thermal technology continues to evolve in law enforcement applications, the Scout Pro represents a practical solution that strikes a balance between advanced capabilities and operational simplicity.