Pullman Police Receive Grant for Thermal Drone
The Pullman Police Department received an $8,750 Gesa Credit Union Local Heroes Grant to purchase a multi-sensor drone.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Philanthropy
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The Pullman Police Department received an $8,750 Gesa Credit Union Local Heroes Grant to purchase a new multi-sensor drone equipped with a thermal camera and night vision cameras. The department did not have the funds to buy the drone on its own.
Why it matters
The department previously lacked thermal imaging capability, and the grant allows it to take the next step in its drone program. The drone will support search and rescue and mutual aid response for the Whitman County SWAT team.
The $8,750 grant is one of 49 awards totaling $600,000 distributed by the program in 2026, bringing its total to $2.6 million since 2021. The extraction does not state whether the grant covers the full cost of the drone.
The players
Gesa Credit Union
Gesa Credit Union is a Pacific Northwest financial institution that funds the Local Heroes Grant program for community organizations.
Jordan Shellabarger
Jordan Shellabarger is the Pullman Police Department's drone program manager overseeing the department's aerial and ground drone operations.
The details
Pullman Police Department applied for the grant because it lacked funds for a new drone. The department will receive the award in late November 2026 and plans to purchase the drone by the end of 2026.
Timeline
2017: The department's formal drone program went into effect.
Late November 2026: The department is set to receive the grant.
End of 2026: The department plans to purchase the drone.
Philanthropy Pattern
The award extends the Gesa Credit Union Local Heroes Grant program, which has distributed $2.6 million to 253 recipients since 2021 to support Pacific Northwest community needs.
Residents of Pullman and Whitman County may see the drone used for search and rescue and mutual aid response with the SWAT team. The added thermal and night vision capability extends the department's ability to locate people in low-visibility conditions.
The takeaway
Community grants can close equipment gaps that local agencies cannot fund from their own budgets. Pullman's award shows how small local programs can directly expand public safety capacity.
What happens next
The department is set to receive the grant in late November 2026 and plans to purchase the drone by the end of 2026.
Further reading
Explore more Philanthropy coverage to see how local grants fund public services.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Evergreen.
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