As more domestic law enforcement agencies acquire drones, concerns are increasing about how the unmanned aerial vehicles will be used and regulated.
In North Carolina, the first drone deployment by a local agency ended badly: Gaston County鈥檚 drone malfunctioned on its debut flight several years ago and was shelved. Now the has gotten approval from the City Council to purchase a drone using drug forfeiture funds.
鈥淭he first concern we have is a general privacy concern and how drones will be used for surveillance,鈥� Policy Director said on The State of Things. Her organization has submitted public records requests to 62 law enforcement agencies in the state, seeking information about their use of military equipment and tactics. 鈥淚n addition to that, we don鈥檛 know how police departments, but as well statewide, how these drones are being regulated.鈥�
Monroe Police Chief Debra Duncan said the drone her department is considering is small and battery powered and could only stay in the air up to 90 minutes. She said it would absolutely not be used for surveillance. As examples of its possible uses Duncan cited Hazmat situations, search and rescue, and barricaded suspects.
鈥淚 understand what Sarah鈥檚 saying, and I can agree with that,鈥� said Duncan. 鈥淚t鈥檚 cutting-edge technology. We鈥檙e just starting with it, so this is new ground for us too. And we want to make sure what we do is right.鈥� Duncan said there would be detailed policies in place and training of officers, and added that she鈥檇 like to work with the ACLU to craft those policies.
