(NewsNation) — Police departments nationwide are increasingly deploying drones as a new kind of first responder.
The use of drones is changing the math on everyday policing and becoming a key part of the rapidly increasing technology available to law enforcement.
In cities like New York, drones stream real-time video back to dispatchers, helping officers assess potentially dangerous situations before arriving. They’ve also been used to track down subway surfers.
“Thermal imaging that is available on these cameras is literally a lifesaver,” said police Lt. Jason Messer of Upper Arlington, Ohio. “It’s going to help us find people who are hiding where officers can’t see.”
Near San Diego, in Chula Vista, drones aren’t only used for crimes. They’re also used to locate missing people, map disaster zones, document crash scenes and even clear hazardous buildings without putting people inside.
More than 1,500 law enforcement agencies now operate drone programs, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Atlas of Surveillance. Although it accounts for less than 10% of all departments, the number is growing.
Drones often reach scenes faster than patrol cars and, in many cases, help resolve situations without any direct officer involvement.
ACLU urges caution without oversight, regulation
Some critics argue police drone programs move too quickly and without enough oversight. Privacy advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union, have warned that aerial surveillance, especially without clear guidelines, could invade private spaces.
Matt Sloan, co-founder of Skyfire AI, a drone company that operates several first responder drone programs for police, says he understands privacy concerns and that police should stay ahead of them.
“I think the one thing that we counsel our departments in being very clear about is the fact that they only use this in response to a 911 call, so they’re not actively out patrolling,” he said.
The Federal Aviation Administration has granted waivers to many police drone programs, but the regulatory framework remains somewhat patchy, and many have cautioned that limits are needed to prevent police overreach.