NATCHEZ — The Adams County Sheriff’s Office has added a second unmanned aircraft system — better known as an aerial drone — to its inventory.

Sheriff Travis Patten said Natchez resident Greg Iles donated the Phantom Drone 3, which is valued at $1,259.

“Times are changing, and it is good to have more than one of those, because you may need more than one at a time, or depending on battery life, you may need to launch the second one,” Patten said.

“With the things that we may not be able to afford, when private citizens step up to the plate and give us something like that, we certainly appreciate it.”

The first drone, a DJI Phantom 3 Professional UAS, was put into service in April, when ACSO pilot Stephen Guido sold it to the office for $1.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a certificate of authority for the ACSO to operate the unmanned aircraft in April.

At the time, Patten said the office would use the aircraft to survey situations without endangering a deputy or to keep an eye from above on large crowds where security is needed.

While the office hasn’t used it for security purposes, the first drone has been used to survey the Mississippi River bridge when a barge struck one of its piers, he said.

It was also used to survey a marijuana grow field the narcotics unit had gotten a tip about before officers entered the scene, Patten said.

“We had gotten the tip, and so we flew the drone over and sure enough, there it was,” he said.

No one was at the scene, but between 35 and 40 marijuana plants were seized, he said.

Anyone else who wants to make donations to the ACSO can do so, Patten said.

The office is currently raising money for a K-9 unit.

The ACSO can be reached at 601-442-2752.