Police drones raise questions about civil liberties

The use of drones by a Columbus-area police department is raising questions about the potential for police technology to violate civil liberties.

The Columbus Dispatch reported that the Dublin Police Department is among 1,400 agencies nationwide that use drones to aid in their efforts.

“Our policy specifically states that drones will not be used for unauthorized surveillance,” Dublin police Sgt. Andrew Clark told The Columbus Dispatch.

However, civil libertarians worry that authorities could use the technology to violate residents’ privacy and the First and Fourth Amendment rights.

“If a city or county [law enforcement agency] is using drones, what exactly is there to stop them from setting up systems wherever they want?” Gary Daniels, legislative director for the American Civil Liberties Union’s Ohio branch, told The Columbus Dispatch.

“We think it’s a no-brainer,” Daniels previously told WOUB. “If law enforcement is intent on saying and claiming that, ‘we’re only going to use it for these specific purposes, emergency purposes, exigent circumstances, you know, lay those out. Let’s get a law passed at the local or the state level so that law enforcement can go ahead and use these technologies for those types.”

Ohio Rep. Bernie Willis, R-Springfield, introduced House Bill 251, which the lawmaker said “takes a balanced and forward-looking approach to two key areas: the regulation of unmanned aerial vehicles—or UAVs—by law enforcement, and the modernization of Ohio’s aviation infrastructure to meet the demands of a changing landscape in air mobility.”

“To enhance transparency and public trust, the bill requires that all law enforcement UAV flights be documented and that those records be treated as public documents, subject to existing exemptions under the Ohio Public Records Law,” Willis added. “Additionally, it explicitly prohibits the arming of UAVs with lethal weapons, underscoring our commitment to ensuring that emerging technologies are not used to militarize law enforcement.”

Dublin police are far from the only department to turn to drones.

The Columbus Division of Police previously purchased five drones for $172,000, WOSU reported. Cincinnati police also have a drone program.

“Within seconds of a call, a drone can be overhead showing us exactly what’s happening,” Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said in a release. “This technology is a force multiplier for our department and enhances the safety of both our officers and the public.”

Proponents argue that drones can help mitigate the risks officers face in potentially hazardous situations.

“If we’re going to do a high-risk search warrant, we will put the drone up and get over the target before units arrive,” Athens County Sheriff’s Office Lt. John Morris told WOUB.

In June, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine announced that the Garfield Heights Police Department in Cuyahoga County would receive $450,000 to start a “Drone as First Responder” initiative. The money is part of more than $3 million in grants to help local law enforcement agencies reduce violent crime in their communities.

By using drones to respond to some calls, the city hopes to better allocate resources to where they are needed. A drone would hover over a scene and broadcast a video feed to dispatchers, allowing them to monitor the situation and determine what additional resources are needed.

Additionally, some state lawmakers are seeking increased federal resources for drones.

Last month, Willis and Ohio Rep. Johnathan Newman, R-Troy, sent a letter of support urging President Trump to consider the Buckeye State for federal funding outlined in an executive order aimed at “Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty.”

“There has been a consistent alarm heard from law enforcement leaders that they do not have the equipment needed to address the risks presented by drones which will likely be the method of terrorist attacks in the future,” Newman said in a release. “We must get prepared to address those risks now.”