NYPD Increases Police Drone Use at Crime Scenes

In a recent development, the NYPD has voiced plans to ramp up the utilization of Police Drones to survey crime scenes, as detailed by the NYPD Chief of Patrol, John Chell. This initiative stems from the technological advancements that Mayor Eric Adams encountered during his recent visit to Israel‘s National Police Academy.

According to Chief Chell, drones offer a swift response to situations, even faster than patrol cars. “We can get the drones there quicker than a police car,” Chell emphasized during a WPIX interview. He further explained the drones’ capability, saying, “They could spot out what the situation is from overhead and give us a heads up as to what we’re looking at.”

While Chell did not accompany Mayor Adams on the Israel tour, other high-ranking NYPD officials, such as Assistant Commissioner Kaz Daughtry and First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella, did.

Mayor Adams hinted at a strategic pairing, suggesting that integrating drones with NYPD motorcycle units could significantly reduce emergency response times. Without delving into the specifics of the Israeli technology he observed, he acknowledged the potential of this pairing to enhance efficiency.

Moreover, Mayor Adams’ tenure has seen an easing of drone restrictions in New York City. This relaxed stance has enabled businesses to more conveniently secure licenses to operate drones.

As the New York Post reported, under Adams’ leadership, the NYPD has significantly invested in these aerial tools, deploying them more in his first 15 months than in the final 15 months of former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration.

Additionally, the NYPD is reportedly broadening its use of ShotSpotter, a system that pinpoints gunshots through a series of city-wide microphones. Chell highlighted the potential of deploying drones in response to ShotSpotter alerts. “

[Drones are] definitely another piece of technology we could use to make this city safer,” he asserted, adding their utility extends to monitoring beaches for sharks or inspecting collapsed structures.

However, there are concerns. Some critics caution that the increased deployment of police drones, especially those with recording and night vision capabilities, poses risks to individual civil rights and could be misused to monitor protests.