This week, the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) is requesting public input on its proposed small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) or drone program policy. The drones will be utilized as a force multiplier during certain situations for the safety of the community and the officers. The New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation (NOPJF), in keeping with its history of identifying opportunities and best practices for public safety, supports the new program and policy, and encourages the public to send their feedback.
Presently, a small group of vocal citizens – although well-meaning – have hampered the conversations around utilizing any new technologies to assist law enforcement in the commission of their duties. The current argument against implementing a drone program policy is that it “raises significant concerns” and lacks clarity or examples of actual risks. While we as a Foundation are extremely sensitive to preserving the rights of all citizens, we see no greater concern for the use of a drone than that of a helicopter. Drone use is being adopted by major metropolitan cities across the country and by neighboring parishes. We commend NOPD for being true to their commitment to transparency by publishing the draft policy and seeking community input.
We want to hear from YOU! Help us draft our drone policy so that we can keep you & our officers safer. READ the full policy >> https://t.co/ueF4STrFJR & EMAIL your thoughts to policyandplanning@nola.gov – The public comment period lasts until Friday. #drones #NOPD pic.twitter.com/yO8d7tQgC6
— New Orleans Police Department (@NOPDNews) November 29, 2023
Year after year our officers are asked to do more with less. In 2023, the NOPD has responded to around 300,000 calls for service, despite having 300 fewer officers now than they did at the same time in 2020. So, while NOPD is not the “first-mover” in drone policy adoption, New Orleans has the opportunity to use technology to aid its current manpower shortage of officers and deputies.
It is important to remember that while there is still much work to be done, violent crime is trending downward due specifically to policies put in place by the NOPD, City Council, and the Mayor. The public is calling for more proactive policing and this is certainly one path to that end. The NOPD has been clear about its intentions to utilize four drones operated by 10 FAA certified drone pilots for crime scene and vehicle crash documentation, surveillance pursuant to valid search warrants, officer training, and disaster response.
Correlations have been made to the passage of facial recognition technology. What is not being communicated is that the NOPD has been transparent in their use of that technology and that no arrests have been made accidentally as a result of its use. Detectives continue to develop cases daily based on thorough investigations and ample probable cause with the sole purpose of holding violent offenders accountable even without all the tools available to larger organizations. When a vocal group calls attention to the 900+ public and private cameras or the few installed automatic license plate readers (LPR’s), it should be noted that this is a fraction of what investigators in a major metropolitan city should have access to in 2023 when searching for violent offenders. The citizens of New Orleans deserve every tool available to make this city a safer place to live, work, and visit.
Just as a unit in another jurisdiction may call for “air support,” a drone may arrive to an active scene or search and rescue incident much faster than an officer observing traffic laws. Just as unintentional misinformation is frequently relayed to dispatchers on 911 calls, an eye in the sky provides clarity during a risk assessment. Just as all other technologies are subject to civilian oversight, the video produced by a drone may be used to modify response to certain situations in the future.
The presence of a drone may even act as a de-escalation tool or deterrent for offenders actively engaged in crime. As stated in the proposed policy, drone usage is not intended for random surveillance. It is intended to respond to particular instances where it captures footage subject to the same rules and procedures as police body worn cameras and dash cameras.
Take back your streets against a national crime epidemic. Show your support for the drone program and policy by sending in your comments.
Public comments extended through Friday, December 1, 2023.
Email policyandplanning@nola.gov.
