Police Drone Use Sparks Privacy Debate in Maryland

A recent panel discussion at the Maryland Association of Counties summer conference in Ocean City highlighted the growing debate over Police use of drones. The discussion, reported by Maryland Matters, focused on the benefits and concerns surrounding law enforcement agencies employing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance and emergency response.

Montgomery County’s Drone Program

Montgomery County has implemented a “Drone as First Responder” program, currently operating in downtown Silver Spring and Wheaton. Lt. Tony Galladora of the Montgomery County Police Department explained that these areas were chosen due to high service call volumes for burglaries, assaults, and other offenses.

The program, which began in November 2023, has responded to nearly 1,100 calls through June 30, 2024. The most common uses were:

• Theft/larceny (35% of calls)
• Suspicious circumstances, person, or vehicle (14%)
• Assault (12%)

Montgomery County Councilmember Dawn Luedtke highlighted that the drone program, costing about $200,000, helps stretch police resources and improve response times. “With a decrease in officers at the department, the use of a drone allows officers to tend to more serious situations, or do other work,” Luedtke said.

Privacy Concerns and Safeguards

Jay Stanley, senior policy analyst with the American Civil Liberties Union’s Speech, Privacy and Technology Project, raised several concerns about police drone use. He outlined ten issues communities should consider, including:

• Democratic process
• Usage limits
• Mass surveillance risks

Stanley emphasized the need for careful consideration: “I’m paid to be paranoid and to think about the ways this could go wrong.”

To address privacy concerns, Montgomery County has implemented safeguards. Luedtke explained, “The cameras are not on until the drone reaches its destination. While the drone is in flight out to its destination, the cameras are pointed upward and they are not on. That was the direct result of community feedback.”

Potential Legislative Action

Del. Luke Clippinger, chair of the House of Delegates Judiciary Committee, moderated the discussion and suggested that drone use could be a topic for Review in the upcoming legislative session. “What happens when a private security company decides that they’re going to run a drone over … [and] follow them [people] out of the building, in the building, and then out of the building, and then presumably, somewhere else,” Clippinger pondered, highlighting the complex Legal questions surrounding drone surveillance.

DroneXL’s Take

The debate over police drone use in Maryland reflects a broader national conversation about balancing public safety with privacy rights. As we’ve seen in our coverage of police drones, these tools can significantly enhance law enforcement capabilities. However, it’s crucial to establish clear guidelines and oversight to prevent potential abuses.

The Montgomery County program’s approach of implementing community-driven safeguards could serve as a model for other jurisdictions considering drone adoption. As Drone Technology continues to advance, ongoing dialogue between law enforcement, policymakers, and civil liberties advocates will be essential to strike the right balance between effective policing and protecting individual privacy rights.