Not all crime stoppers stay grounded. Some fly high.

New York State Police have launched the Unmanned Aerial System Program. The initiative teaches law enforcement how to use drones. 

Four troops are currently enrolled. By the end of March, they are hoping to expand to nine troops across the state.

State Police say the drones will help during active crime scenes, search and rescue and assessment of traffic issues. They also say the devices will keep first responders safe.

"We can over watch our personnel. We can look out for them and see where they're going, direct them to different things," said Capt. Scott Reichel. "So it gives us just an added measure of security, an added measure of observation when we're conducting these types of operations."

State Police will have a total of 18 drones, each costing an average of about $7,000. They are funded by the state and the Troopers Foundation.

State Police say they will not use the drones for speed enforcement, and they will be sure to safeguard privacy. The drones also won't be used in New York City due to flight restrictions.