A drone was said to be one of the most popular items on Christmas 2016 wish lists.

Santa was good to Salisbury Township Police Chief Allen W. Stiles, who got at least one of his Christmas wishes granted.

More specifically, on page 12, line item 411.700, under capital equipment, emergency management, of the Salisbury Township 2017 general fund budget, lists an unnamed expenditure of $7,500.

That cost would be matched by an amount under capital equipment, police, according to Salisbury Township Assistant Manager-Director of Finance Cathy Bonaskiewich, who confirmed the cost of the drone would be shared by the police department and emergency management services at a cost of about $15,500.

The purchase of a drone was approved as part of the Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners’ 5-0 unanimous approval of the 2017 general fund budget at its Dec. 22 meeting.

The drone did not arrive in time for Christmas Day. It is expected to be purchased during the first quarter and in use by mid-year of 2017.

According to the website, CNET, a drone was one of the most popular requests on 2016’s Christmas gift list.

The Salisbury Township Police Department drone will not be a hobbyist’s toy, but rather one expected to aid township police officers’ work.

“We can use it in tactical situations. We can use it at a fire scene and traffic assist and surveillance,” Stiles told a reporter for The Press before the Dec. 22 meeting.

“It can hover for hours,” Stiles said of a drone’s potential.

He said other uses for the drone include traffic flow, emergency management and locating lost persons.

Stiles said township officers would need to be trained to operate a drone. Several officers might be assigned to use it.

It was reported in June that Lehigh County purchased a drone.

The Lehigh University Police Department purchased a drone more than one year ago and has a police officer certified to use it. The drone has assisted campus police to investigate shots being fired, sightings of bears and in locating lost children.

The Federal Aviation Administration limits where unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, can be flown. Airports, helicopter pads, military and government agencies, stadiums, sports contests and car races, crowds, private property, businesses and schools, are off limits

It was not known what model or type of drone Salisbury plans to purchase.

According to the website for the firm, Homeland Surveillance & Electronics LLC, “Drones are rugged and reliable, specifically targeting the needs of first-responders. The packaged system fits easily in the trunk of a car and can be assembled and ready for flight in less than five minutes to provide a rapidly deployable eye in the sky, transmitting live video directly to the operator at a fraction of the cost of manned aircraft.

“Transported in the trunk of a police vehicle, the back of a fire truck or carried in a backpack, small UAVs can provide immediate situational awareness to first responders, giving them a bird’s-eye view of the situation, day or night, to save lives and protect property.”