The NYPD is gearing up to introduce drones as part of their response to 911 calls across the city, according to officials.
Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry unveiled plans for the Drone as First Responder pilot program during a hearing before the House Committee on Homeland Security. The initiative will launch in the coming months, initially covering four NYPD police precincts and the Central Park precinct.
Daughtry explained that the drones will be deployed in response to specific 911 calls for service, although he did not specify the types of calls they would address. The selected precincts, three in Brooklyn and one in the Bronx, were chosen based on recent crime trends.
To facilitate the program, the rooftops of the precinct station houses will be retrofitted to support two drone platforms. While the drones will take off and land from these rooftops, the pilot will operate from NYPD headquarters in lower Manhattan, transmitting video and telemetry data to officers in the field.
According to Daughtry, the information provided by the drones will enhance officers’ situational awareness upon arriving at the scene, improve officer safety, and facilitate more efficient resource deployment.
The NYPD currently possesses 85 drones, primarily used for covering large events, monitoring protests, and inspecting infrastructure integrity. Daughtry clarified that drones cannot be used for warrantless surveillance, traffic enforcement, or immobilizing suspects’ vehicles. Routine patrols are also excluded from drone usage, although it remains unclear how the new pilot program will impact this restriction.
Critics of the NYPD’s drone usage have raised concerns about civil rights infringements, labeling the technology as dystopian and potentially discriminatory. Last year, the NYCLU opposed plans to deploy drones during the J’Ouvert festival, citing potential privacy violations and racial discrimination.
Daniel Schwartz, NYCLU’s senior privacy and technology strategist, expressed skepticism about the NYPD’s drone initiatives, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding First and Fourth Amendment rights. He cautioned against pervasive drone surveillance, warning of its potential for exploitation and discrimination against New Yorkers.