New York Is Sending Drones As “First Responders” To 911 Calls
The NYPD is set to use drones as “first responders” for 911 calls. These unmanned aircraft will soon accompany officers on emergency calls throughout the city. The “Drone as First Responder” pilot program will start in four NYPD precincts and the Central Park precinct.
This announcement came from NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry during a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing. Critics worry that the program could erode privacy rights and lead to unchecked surveillance, calling it dystopian.
Drone Deployment Strategy
Daughtry didn’t specify what type of calls the drones would assist with. He said, “The plan, to be rolled out in the coming months, is to deploy these drones in response to certain 911 calls for service.” It will be interesting to see if this is effective.
Precinct Selection Criteria
Daughtry mentioned that three of the precincts involved in the initiative are located in Brooklyn, with the fourth situated in the Bronx. He elaborated that the selection of these precincts was influenced by “recent crime trends.”
Infrastructure Investment
The precinct station houses will undergo retrofitting to accommodate two drone platforms on their roofs. This demonstrates the large extent to which the police department is investing in this initiative.
Operational Logistics
Daughtry explained that while the drones will take off and land from the station house rooftop, the pilot will operate from NYPD headquarters in lower Manhattan. He added that the pilot will transmit video and telemetry data to officers in the field.
Enhanced Situational Awareness
“The information provided by DFR will be shared with responding officers. [It] will enhance officers’ situational awareness as they arrive on scene, promote officer safety, and help us deploy resources more effectively,” said Daughtry.
Current Drone Usage
Right now, the NYPD possesses 85 drones. These remote-controlled aircraft are typically deployed for significant occasions like the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square, large-scale protests, and big-time police operations.
Structural Assessment And Surveillance
According to Daughtry, drones have been utilized to assess the structural integrity of buildings and bridges following accidents. Additionally, they have been deployed to monitor above-ground train lines to deter subway surfing.
Surging Drone Utilization
Last year, the utilization of drones by the NYPD surged by over 400% compared to 2022. This large increase shows the growing reliance on drone technology to enhance the department’s operational efficiency and response capabilities.
Usage Restrictions
Daughtry clarified that drones cannot be deployed for “warrantless surveillance” or for “traffic enforcement or immobilizing vehicles of suspects.” These restrictions ensure that their usage remains within legal and ethical boundaries.
Prohibited Patrol Activities
The drones are also prohibited from routine patrols, though the impact of the new pilot program on this rule remains uncertain. This rule ensures that their deployment aligns with specific operational needs rather than general use.
Civil Liberties Concerns
Last year, the New York Civil Liberties Union described the plan to fly drones above Brooklyn’s J’Ouvert festival around Labor Day, a Caribbean-inspired celebration that has historically been marred by violent clashes, as “racialized discrimination.” The NYPD didn’t use drones at the event because of the NYCLU pushback.
Constitutional Rights
“It doesn’t make us feel safer. The NYPD is playing fast and loose with our First and Fourth Amendment rights. Pervasive drone surveillance can be easily misused to exploit and discriminate against New Yorkers, putting all of our privacy at risk,” said Daniel Schwartz, NYCLU senior privacy and technology strategist.
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