New York City Police Department Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry announced on May 16 that unmanned drones will be used as first responders in five precincts to respond to emergency calls made to 911.
Daughtry testified at a hearing of the House Committee on Homeland Security that the new pilot program of using drones as first responders will be launched in the coming months. The five precincts selected for the trial program include three in Brooklyn, one in the Bronx, and the Central Park precinct.
The rooftops of the offices in these five precincts will be transformed into unmanned drone takeoff and landing platforms. Although the drones will take off from precinct rooftops, they will be controlled from the headquarters in downtown Manhattan, sending video and telemetry data to the police officers on the scene. Daughtry did not specify which 911 emergency rescue missions the drones would support, but he mentioned that drones can help arriving officers quickly assess the situation, enhance safety, and efficiently deploy resources.
The New York City Police Department currently owns 85 drones. Since 2022, drone usage has surged by 420%, with their applications becoming increasingly diverse. Drones have been used to monitor large crowds at gatherings or protest events, inspect the structural integrity of buildings and bridges after earthquakes, and patrol subway lines to crack down on dangerous subway surfing behaviors, among other uses. Last fall, the police used drones to monitor protests supporting Palestine in Times Square and Bay Ridge, then provided the footage as evidence to prosecutors, resulting in the prosecution of 158 individuals.
However, the use of drones by the police to monitor gatherings or protest events has been criticized for potentially violating civil rights. In response to this, Daughtry assured that drones will not be used for unauthorized surveillance, traffic enforcement, or intercepting suspicious vehicles. Additionally, he pledged that the NYPD will gradually phase out the drones manufactured by the Chinese company Da Jiang Innovations to prevent the risk of data being handed over to the Chinese government.
The introduction of drones as first responders in these precincts represents a major advancement in the law enforcement capabilities of the New York City Police Department, aiming to enhance rapid response and improve overall public safety. The use of drones in emergency situations can significantly aid in real-time assessment and decision-making processes, ultimately benefitting the community and ensuring a more effective and efficient emergency response system.