The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) recently acquired two advanced surveillance aerial devices from the Seattle Police Department to bolster their law enforcement resources. However, the LAPD is deliberating not calling them “drones,” to avoid stirring up any controversy based on the negative connotations associated with the word and the technology. The model acquired by the LAPD is the Draganflyer X6 small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS). The high-tech device is approximately three feet wide and is well known for its use by professional photographers. It is equipped with two high definition Sony 20.1 megapixel cameras. According to DraganFly Innovations, the company that manufactures the technology, these cameras deliver a “high percentage of razor sharp” images and have infrared night vision capabilities.
The LAPD has taken great pains to be as up front as possible about not only their acquisition of the drones but also the circumstances in which they could potentially be used. These circumstances, which the LAPD describe as “narrow” could include situations where the use of aerial surveillance UAS might help prevent “imminent bodily harm” or help to resolve a hostage situation. As the UAS have the ability to access the inside of buildings that contain armed suspects, the technology could be instrumental in providing critical information while reducing the risk of loss of life.
According to the LAPD, despite the recent acquisition of the advanced surveillance UAS the decision to deploy them has not yet been confirmed pending review by the Board of Police Commissioners. Public sentiment will also be taken into consideration as well as input from the LAPD itself. Commander Andrew Smith of the LAPD has indicated that they are not trying to “sneak” the UAS into action and that the department is considering using them “down the road.”
However, it is interesting to note that the UAS were given to the LAPD by the Seattle Police Department (SPD) because of the vocal and vociferous opposition to the surveillance programme by the citizens of Seattle who raised serious concerns about their rights to privacy. Those concerns caused the SPD to ground their programme. It is likely that citizens in Los Angeles will have similar concerns over the LAPD’s use of advanced surveillance aerial UAS, even if they are to be used only as a law enforcement tool and not to “spy” on everyday citizens.
Source: Liberty Voice