Worcester Police Already Using Drones With Formal Policy Pending

WORCESTER, MA — As Worcester police make plans to create a drone program, a deputy chief told city councilors on Tuesday that the department has already been using the unmanned aircraft.

Deputy Chief Paul Saucier was responding to questions by At-Large Councilor Khrystian King, who wanted to know whether the department had used drones over the last six months. Saucier said the department has used drones on two occasions recently: during a homicide investigation and during a search for a missing person.

Saucier said the department will typically call another department — like state police or Framingham police — to borrow a drone.

"In the best interest of public safety, it's better to have your own," he told councilors.

Last week, police sent a proposed plan to councilors for a department drone program. But the item was held and has not been voted on. The proposal would use $25,000 from a state grant to buy a drone. It also creates a formal department policy for the use of drones.

"The Worcester Police Department realizes that rapid changes in technology means that we will need to regularly review how [drones are] deployed. We will remain open to updating our policies and procedures frequently while overseeing the program's mission and directives," the memo said.

According to the memo, police would use a drone to photograph traffic incidents, perform search and rescue missions and document crime scenes. Police could also lend the drone to other city departments, including the fire department and the quality of life team, which does outreach and enforcement among Worcester's homeless residents.

At-Large Councilor Thu Nguyen asked to hold the drone program request for two weeks until reports about police drone use and the grant funding the initiative could be delivered to city council.

"I attempted to hold the item with the intent for the public to have reports beforehand to have more information — the more informed we are, the better our conversations right?" they wrote in a Facebook post.

Nguyen's motion failed, but councilors did vote to send the drone issue to the public safety subcommittee chaired by At-Large Councilor Kate Toomey. Toomey said the subcommittee will meet about the issue on April 19.