To view our drones in action : https :// gachiefs . com / bhdrones
Using this model , the officer operating the drone can use cameras to evaluate the situation remotely and provide timely information and video footage to responding officers and field supervisors . This practice creates a number of advantages for responding police officers , including enhanced officer safety through real-time information from another police officer ; mitigation of “ dispatch priming ” by confirming or dispelling caller-provided information before officers arrive on scene ; and improved resource allocation abilities as pilot officers guide ground units along the best routes .
Particularly as a national dialogue centers on police-citizen encounters , the use of UAS technology in response to police calls for service serves an innovative tool for de-escalation . Prior to DFR , officers were forced to rely on third-hand information passed through dispatch from the 911 caller . By dispatching the drone as a first responder , BPD can remotely assess a scene and determine what type , if any , police response is necessary . This approach avoids unnecessary confrontations and allows pilots to cancel ground units when no evidence of a crime is found .
After extensive research into the CVPD program , Brookhaven Police in October 2020 presented a DFR model to the Brookhaven City Council . City officials enthusiastically supported the DFR model in conjunction with traditional “ portable ” drones to be carried by officers for rapid deployment . BPD ultimately obtained seven drones to begin UAS operations . One of the drones is assigned to DFR , and while the others are available for scene-specific rapid deployments .
During the development stages of the DFR program , BPD met with several community stakeholders and civil rights organizations including the DeKalb County District Attorney ’ s Office and the American Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU ) of Georgia . These conversations helped BPD develop procedures for handling and storage of UAS videos and made clear the purpose of the DFR program . Critical aspects of the program design include using UAS only in response to calls for service or emergency scenes ( as opposed to conducting random patrols or aerial “ surveillance ”); and prohibiting the intentional recording or transmitting of images of any area where a person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy without first obtaining a search warrant .
Video recordings that do not contain evidence of crimes or hold training value are held only for 30- days . Footage obtained in conjunction with a criminal investigation is uploaded into the same cloud-based server that stores officers ’ body-worn and in-car camera footage and held according to statutory retention periods .
In the spirit of transparency , BPD also plans to publish monthly data on UAS operations on the department ’ s webpage . These data will include call type , response time , and number of incidents resulting in arrests or evidence recovered with UAS assistance .
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