COPS is poised to deploy drones in response to certain 911 calls instead of officers, sparking a heated debate.
Agencies in Colorado are making the switch to drones to save resources and better strategize where officers spend their time, but locals are concerned it will increase pressure on their community.
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Colorado police officers received a $100,000 grant from the Denver Police Foundation to expand their drone program.
Colorado resident Laura Moraff shared her concern about police drones and said it could affect people’s rights and how they go about their daily activities.
“We are concerned about what it would mean if drones were actually flying over Colorado skies,” Moraff said. The Denver Post.
“We are concerned about what this would mean for First Amendment activities, for speech, and for organizing and protesting
“Because being monitored by authorities, including by drones, can change the way people speak and protest.”
However, Colorado police highlighted the positive aspects that drones can bring to departments.
The hope is that drones will make many of your tasks less timely.
About 20 agencies in Colorado already use drones to help, but not respond to first responders’ calls.
USEFUL DRONES
Drones have been used to help search for missing people and suspects, as well as recording crime scenes and aerial surveillance.
The head of the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office’s drone unit, Sergeant Jeremiah Gates, believes the technology will eventually replace many police functions.
“This really is the future of law enforcement at some point, whether we like it or not,” Gates told The Denver Post.
“I could fly over the drone (a suspect vehicle) and say, ‘Hey, that vehicle is not out of place.’
“And I’ve never had to send a police officer to bother them and I can clear that up.
“It’s saving resources.”
Phil Gonshak, director of Denver’s Bureau of Strategic Initiatives, explained how officers would still be dispatched when needed or requested.
What types of calls would drones be sent on?
- Calls from first responders that do not request officers
- Searching for missing people
- Tracking fleeing suspects
- Mapping crime scenes
- Conducting aerial surveillance during SWAT operations
- Responding to some 911 calls in situations where drones can provide useful information before officers are deployed
- Investigate reported suspicious activity, such as suspicious vehicles
- Assist in assessing the location of reported incidents, such as fights or traffic issues
- Providing air support to redirect officers to other emergent calls
The main issue they are trying to address is how police officers are too often dispatched to false emergencies.
“We would never simply replace responding to calls for service by law enforcement officers,” Gonshak said.
“DPD would respond to any call for service where someone physically requests an officer to be on scene.
“But if there was a fight in Colfax and Cherokee and we put a drone in the air and there was no fight and nothing caused traffic problems, then we would redirect our officers to other emerging calls.”
POSITIVE REVIEWS
Drones are also being used successfully in other agencies in the US, such as the Chula Vista police department in California.
Chief Roxanna Kennedy of the department said the drones help officers have a second set of eyes in case of an emergency.
“Drones provide valuable information to law enforcement officers, sharing with them a view of what is really happening,” Kennedy said. in a video on Youtube.
“It makes all the difference for officers, dispatchers and supervisors to make split-second decisions.
Chula Vista captain Miriam Foxx also praised drone technology for officers.
“It’s important to have all information readily accessible,” Foxx said in the video.
“This gives officers all the information they need to make the best decision possible.”
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
