14 Drones Are Being Deployed By The NYPD

The NYPD (New York Police Department) just made an announcement that 14 drones and plans have been acquired to assist them in improving policies in New York City. The movement has received a lot of negative responses from many civil advocacy groups as they are concerned about the department’s intention.

In its official announcement, the NYPD said that they are training 29 police officers to use the UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles). It is expected that the drones will be used in large city events such as concerts as well as in crime scene investigations and hostage situations. The new technology will not be used for traffic law enforcement or citizen surveillance.

In a statement released on Tuesday morning, Police Commissioner James P. O’ Neill, said that being the United States’ largest municipal police department and with the fast development of new technology, the NYPD needs to utilize the benefits that technology can bring.

Although the NYPD has already stated that these devices won’t be used for malicious reasons, different advocacy groups are raising their voice concerning that they could be used for surveillance purposes. Other departments across the country have also been using drones. They have also received worrying responses and criticisms from citizens as well as local advocacy groups.

The NYPD’s new drone policy is being criticized by groups like the New York Civil Liberties Union. They say that the use of drones has no ‘meaningful restrictions’ and it can lead to the department being able to set up a permanent archive from all of the obtained footage from the drones.

They wrote in a statement that although they appreciate that the NYPD is willing to have a meeting with them before the announcement of the new drone plan, the new policy can pose a significant threat to New Yorker’s privacy.