The San Francisco Police Department has praised its implementation of drones in crime-fighting operations, describing the technology as transformative.
On Tuesday, the department released footage from nearly two weeks ago, captured by police drones. The video depicted thieves breaking into vehicles at Fisherman’s Wharf and escaping on dirt bikes. Thanks to the drones, police were able to track and apprehend the suspects within minutes.
Police Chief Bill Scott emphasized the importance of drones as a modern law enforcement tool.
“Crime has decreased in San Francisco,” Scott stated. “It’s lower than it’s been in the past decade and with drones we think we can enhance that even more.”
Lt. Thomas Maguire of the department’s Strategic Investigations unit mentioned plans to acquire more drones and train additional operators. The department will use data to identify where drones can be most effectively deployed.
The city’s chief prosecutor noted that video footage is crucial evidence in court. In the case of the footage, the individuals were charged with auto burglary. Two of them are repeat offenders.
However, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a civil liberties organization, expressed concerns about the circumstances under which the drones were acquired and their potential privacy risks.
The police department assured that its drone use adheres to legal guidelines.
“We’re not just hovering flying drones over the city just for unknown purposes,” Scott explained. “When we deploy these drones it’s connected to a criminal investigation or some critical incident.”
According to the mayor’s office, crime has decreased, with property crime down by 35% and violent crime by 13%.
Image source: SFPD