CLEVELAND (WJW) — Video released to the FOX 8 I-Team shows Cleveland police had to call in a drone from the suburbs to help track down robbery suspects.
The I-Team recently, exposed long delays for Cleveland police to start using drones. The wait has dragged on for years. Now, we’re see the impact.
Security video from last week shows three guys walking down a street with a gun and their faces covered.
Downtown Cleveland thief indicted again: I-Team They held up a man, tried to break into cars, then disappeared into the shadows.
It happened just after midnight on the city’s northwest side. And, Cleveland police had to call in a drone from Parma police to help find the suspects. Cleveland police still do not use drones due to government red tape.
On a dispatch recording, you hear an officer ask, “You want Parma (Police) for a drone?” Another officer says, “Yeah, why don’t you reach out for the drone. See if they have one.”
A west side businessman reacted by saying, “It’s ridiculous.”
The suspects prowled around cars on his lot. Then, they took off.
After Parma police brought in their drone, officers found the suspects hiding.
The businessman told us he’s grateful. But, he can’t understand why Cleveland police are not using basic technology used by so many other police departments, even smaller ones.
He added, “It needs to be taken seriously. These kids are running around with guns. It could be something serious. Could be a murder of them, or murder of somebody else.”
The I-Team recently found Cleveland City Council approved buying drones two years ago, but it didn’t happen. The city finally just bought drones
But, safety officials say Cleveland police probably won’t use the drones for several more months.
Former NFL, Kent State player arrested after son found safe At a news conference in May, the I-Team asked about the delay, and Safety Director Wayne Drummond said, “We’re gonna slow-walk it. Make sure we’re doing the right thing.”
City hall has said police have to go through training and write a policy, then get that policy approved.
Chief Dororthy Todd told city council, in May, “Very time-consuming before we could move this forward. I do not anticipate that would be anytime this year.”
In the case from the west side, Parma Police brought in a drone with a spotlight and the officers hauled away three suspects.
This case shows what’s going on during the wait for Cleveland police to start using drones.
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