Streetsboro Officer Scott Hermon prepares to pilot the department's first drone in Streetsboro, Ohio. Streetsboro Police became one of hundreds of agencies across the country adopting drone technology when Hermon became the first Streetsboro officer certified to fly drones in October. Streetsboro Police say they can't afford a helicopter, but a drone provides many of the same capabilities at a fraction of the price. Source: AP Photo/Dake KangWith the number of drones being used by United States law enforcement agencies doubling in 2016, the technology is modifying how officers are accomplishing some of their day-to-day tasks.

For now, almost 350 emergency agencies in the U.S. employ drones for tasks such as helping conduct a search for an armed and fleeing suspect, preventing thefts from areas such as construction sites and helping patrol beaches for sharks. Drones are also being used to gather information about potentially dangerous weather events like floods, helping officials determine what affected areas may need to be evacuated.

Although there are limitations to the technology, such as size and short battery life, law enforcement officials agree drones are cheaper than helicopters.

"It's very affordable for even small departments like ours to be able to do it; that was the kicker," said Darin Powers, police chief in Streetsboro, Ohio, near Cleveland.

Another limit, according to officials, is the federal regulation that drones cannot travel out of view of their operators; a detail that might complicate a foot-chase of a suspect running into a dense, faraway cornfield.

Barring that, most agree that the technology is useful.

“It gives the investigators a great advantage that they never had before," said Sgt. Matt Rogers of the Michigan State Police. "I think every chief in the U.S. wants one of these things, but it does not replace a manned aircraft."

Jared Hogge, Lockheed Martin Corp.'s project manager for Indago, a 5-pound drone that fits in the back of a patrol car, said many of the ideas for what's next in drone technology are coming from officers flying the drones.

"We're at the beginning of learning how and when these systems are going to be used," he said.