D.C. police will use drones for crimefighting

D.C. is deploying police drones for the first time to assist officers on the ground.

Why it matters: Many cities use drones for searches and to watch large crowds, but the technology has also sparked concerns over privacy.

Driving the news: The Metropolitan Police Department's drone program was unveiled Monday with five automated devices capable of 30 minutes of flight before needing a recharge.

• The drones aim to help with searches for missing persons, responses to major traffic crashes, crowd management, and tactical circumstances such as a police barricade situation.

How it works: A drone is authorized to help locate a suspect if three criteria are met, including the person must be believed to be armed and the circumstances put officers at risk of death or serious injury.

• Other examples of use include serving high-risk warrants and during disposal operations for explosive materials.

"The use of facial recognition and weapon capabilities are prohibited," the department says .

• Drones also can't be deployed to record a particular person or group based on their identity.

Zoom out: About 1,200 police departments across the U.S. use drones in some capacity, including in Beverly Hills, California, and Washington state, according to Electronic Frontier Foundation , a digital privacy advocacy group.

• Chula Vista , Calif., has the nation's longest-running drone-as-first responder program, often touted as a case study for the benefits of drone policing.
• The department's public stats show most calls handled by drones in 2022 were for incidents including disturbances, psychological evaluations, and welfare checks, freeing up officers to respond to more pressing calls.

Yes, but: Drones can be controversial. A 2021 court ruling found a Baltimore aerial surveillance system deployed to try to reduce homicides was an unconstitutional intrusion of privacy as it tracked residents' movements throughout the day.