(TNS) — The Marin County Sheriff’s Office is getting ready to launch a new “unmanned aerial systems” program.

Sheriff’s Capt. David Augustus steered away from using the word “drone” when talking about the program, set to begin in 60 to 90 days.

“I don’t like that word,” Augustus said. “Drones have an inference of military surveillance or weaponry. That’s not what these are.”

In fact, the program is still in its early stages and the department has not yet purchased any “unmanned aerial vehicles” or even determined how many it will buy.

“We’re still in the exploratory stage of that,” Augustus said. “We’re looking at two to three, maybe up to four.”

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