Three Drones To Be Used By Howard County Police

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The Howard County Police Department will study the benefit of using drones in police operations. The department announced Thursday a one-year field test using three drones. Ten officers have been trained and certified as remote pilots as required by the FFA. They will remain in their current positions and respond to incidents when a drone is needed.

“This is another step forward in our commitment to the safety and security of our residents,” said Police Chief Lisa Myers in a statement. “As technology evolves, our agency will continue to evolve with it to ensure we are providing the most effective ways to protect our communities. The drones can help us in search-and-rescue operations and provide real-time information in potentially dangerous crisis situations.”

The HCPD will follow public guidelines from the ACLU to avoid privacy concerns from the community. According to the police department, policy allows the use of drones in situations when life and safety are at risk; when there are specific and articulable grounds to believe that the drone will collect evidence relating to criminal activity; or when there is a signed search warrant from a judge for areas covered under the Fourth Amendment, which protects individuals from unreasonable search and seizure. They will not be used for mass surveillance that could violate First Amendment-protected activities.

Images taken by the three drones will not be retained unless there is reasonable suspicion that they contain evidence of criminal activity or are relevant to an ongoing investigation or pending criminal trial, the department noted. Images that do not possess any evidentiary value will be deleted. The total cost for the three drones is $33,800 and was partially funded with a $20,000 contribution from the Howard County Police Foundation.