The Denver Police Department has recently updated its arsenal with the addition of two high-tech drones, set to bolster the effectiveness of several police operations. As reported by the Denver Police Department, these drones are to be deployed for a range of tasks including public safety missions and search and rescue operations. The Denver Police Chief, Ron Thomas, expressed enthusiasm for the drones, noting that they will be instrumental when working to prevent and solve crime in the city.
Since the commencement of their drone testing process earlier this April, the Denver Police have reportedly started to use drones approximately 54 times. These instances primarily revolved around suspect searches and missing person cases. The strategy involves deploying a pair of officers, one to operate the drone as a certified pilot and the other to act as a spotter, ensuring safe drone operation. The intention is to not only increase officer awareness but also swiftly collect photo and video evidence where necessary. The drones, funded by the Denver Police Foundation for $50,000, are to be operated under strict guidelines to respect citizens' privacy and align with the Department's bias-free policing policy.
Denver Police emphasizes that their drone use will be restricted to specific types of incidents, which include bomb unit assistance, documentation of major incident scenes, aid in high-risk operations, and search and rescue efforts. As obtained by the Denver Police Department, the drones won't be used for surveillance unconnected to cases or incidents, nor will they be snooping around private homes without proper cause or authorization.
Demonstrating a commitment towards transparency, the police department is also planning to introduce a transparency dashboard to publicly share the drones' telemetry information. This initiative appears to align closely with their Body-Worn Camera Policy, as the department insists on carefully managing the storage and utilization of videos and images captured during their operations. The department's measured approach seeks to carefully negotiate the balance between leveraging technology to safeguard the community, and ensuring residents retain their esteemed right to privacy. "The Denver Police Department is excited to utilize these 'eyes in the skies' when preventing and solving crime in Denver," Chief Ron Thomas said, as per Denver Police Department.
