WASHINGTON — The Metropolitan Police Department says they are rolling out new technology to combat crime from the sky. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Police Chief Pamela Smith unveiled a new helicopter and a new drone program on Monday.
D.C. leaders called them two critical investments in MPD's crimefighting capabilities. Smith says the new aerial assets are meant to help keep officers and the community safe and support the work of the District's Real-Time Crime Center.
“We have already seen success with the Real-Time Crime Center, and this is one more way to leverage new technology to protect officers, keep D.C. safe and drive down crime,” Bowser said Monday.
Using five drones, MPD joins some 1,500 police departments that use remotely operated aircraft systems, commonly known as drones, to transmit critical information and give a bird’s-eye view to on-scene commanders and officers in real time. According to Smith, the District's restricted airspace allows for a limited program with strict procedures.
"With the ability for the drones to link directly to our real-time crime center, we will be able to provide more information to our officers on the ground," Smith added.
MPD says the drones can support responses to critical incidents such as searching for missing persons, tracking dangerous suspects who are attempting to evade law enforcement, and executing high-risk warrants. Drones will also assist in documenting major crash investigations and aid the Harbor Patrol Unit during water search operations, the police department said.
Smith says the drones can be used during police chases, but will not be used for patrolling purposes.
"Specifically trained officers deploy this technology in response to individuals with weapons and barricaded subjects, as well as assisting with cases involving major crash reconstruction, searching for missing persons, and even using them for crowd management for large gatherings," the chief added.
During a Monday morning news conference Chief Smith also addressed privacy concerns saying, "Let me be clear, the drone program today will not utilize artificial intelligence, facial recognition or be used for general surveillance purposes."
The technology in the new upgraded Airbus helicopter dubbed Falcon 1, will also be able to send live videos and pictures to DC's Real Time Crime Center.
Smith says that the drones will not start recording immediately when they are launched. She said the footage obtained by the technology will be stored in a cloud and treated like all other video evidence.
In a statement to WUSA9 the DC ACLU said, "The growing use of surveillance technology by law enforcement agencies without limits, transparency, and accountability is deeply concerning. Drones are a powerful and novel surveillance technology, and the District's police drone expansion simply does not have sufficient guardrails to ensure our privacy and security. Before using police drones, District leaders should seriously consider whether the technology is needed and how its practice should be limited and reported. It is important not to make policy by anecdote. Anyone can come up with scenarios about how a technology will improve people’s lives, but the real question is how it will play out in real time in our lives."
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