Baraboo police officer uses personal drone to assist in Angela Girton recovery

In the early days of the search for missing 5-year-old Angela Girton, a Baraboo police officer joined the search using drone technology.

13-year Baraboo veteran Officer Jeremy Drexler turned his drone flying hobby into help for the search and rescue crew trying to locate Girton, who is presumed to have drowned in the Wisconsin River on April 6.

Drexler provided crews aerial pictures during the first night of the search, which helped them navigate through difficult areas. 

“I felt the pictures and the video that  I got for them, then turned immediately over, then turn over to the emergency management, ENT guys, I felt that the pictures that I got at that time were  going to help the dive team,” Drexler said.

Officer Drexler predicts over the next decade drones will change policing because of the vast area they can quickly fly past, capturing pictures and video. 

Richland County officials expanded their search of the Wisconsin River over weekend, and say their search efforts this week will depend on rainfall.