NEW ORLEANS — Less than 20 years ago, drones moved from being used exclusively by the military, to the hands of hobbyists. Now, they could help fight crime.
New Orleans police are turning to a new, cutting-edge technology in hopes of making our city safer.
“It will be our eyes in the skies,” Officer Dupree said. “If we can't have cameras out there in the blocks, these drones will help.”
In addition to surveying disasters, reconstructing accidents, and performing searches, NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says drones could help monitor crimes.
“We can see things quicker,” Kirkpatrick said. “It would be about predicting the crime than following up after the crime has occurred. After someone has been victimized.”
If that drone spots a crime happening, NOPD will evaluate the situation and make a plan.
“I'm assuming we would start to follow the individual or the vehicle,” Officer Dupree said. “Once we get enough intel or warrant, we will be able to deploy our officers.”
The flying technology will do more than add a different point of view. It will also fill gaps in staffing, which currently sits near historic lows.
“Even though we don't have a lot of officers right now, it will supplement us,” Officer Dupree said.
So far four pilots trained to fly these drones, but a lot is still up in the air. NOPD is asking for your advice.
“The important thing is that we're giving the community a chance to give us feedback,” Kirkpatrick said.
Kirkpatrick says they haven't received much feedback from the public.
Other officers are looking forward to working side by side with the drones. Officer Boone witnessed the benefits firsthand, after the collapse of the Hard Rock Hotel in 2019.
“I was here during the Hard Rock,” Boone said. “They used drones for safety reasons, because they couldn't get inside the building. It gave the public and law enforcement the opportunity to see the area and what was going on inside.”
The ultimate purpose for drones is public safety.
You can send your ideas and concerns to policyandplanning@nola.gov.
► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the new FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.