NYPD Drone Program⁢ Faces Scrutiny over Lack⁤ of Oversight

A scathing new report from the New York City Department of​ Investigation (DOI) has exposed significant flaws in the NYPD’s ‌rapidly expanding ‌drone ⁢program.‍ Released on December ‌18, 2024, the report alleges a lack of proper supervision, disregard for ⁣established chain-of-command protocols, and⁣ insufficient clarity ‌regarding the capabilities of ‌the department’s unmanned aerial vehicles ‍(uavs).

The ​DOI’s investigation focused on the NYPD’s compliance with the 2020 Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology (POST) Act, designed ​to ensure⁢ accountability in the department’s use of ​surveillance technologies.The report, led by Inspector-General Jeanene Barrett, found that while drone usage has increased considerably, the‍ NYPD has failed to ⁤adhere to its own⁤ established guidelines.

The report further criticizes the NYPD’s publicly available Impact and Use Policy (IUP) ⁢for drone operations,issued in September 2023. According to the DOI, the IUP fails to fully disclose crucial details about ‌the drones’ capabilities, including mapping technologies,⁢ interaction systems, ‌and ⁣even the presence of a device capable of shattering glass. The report also highlights the IUP’s inadequate coverage of potential health and ​safety risks, as well as the⁣ risks of property damage.

“NYPD’s increase in drone usage in recent years has raised privacy concerns related to how drones are used to conduct police surveillance,” stated Inspector-General Barrett. ⁢ “The ⁤recommendations in ‌this report call on⁤ the NYPD to enhance ⁢its unmanned aircraft‌ systems’ impact and use policy by providing additional details about the‌ drone‍ program and drone capabilities, thereby increasing public transparency related to [its] use of this technology.”

increased ‌Drone‍ Use,Decreased Accountability

The DOI’s findings have sparked renewed debate about the balance between public safety and⁤ individual privacy in the⁢ age of advanced surveillance technology. The report’s recommendations ​emphasize⁢ the need for‌ greater transparency‍ and stricter adherence to established protocols within ⁢the NYPD’s drone ​program. The implications‌ extend beyond new ⁢York City, raising broader questions about the responsible deployment of drones by law enforcement agencies⁤ nationwide.

Concerns about the potential for misuse ​of drone technology, including unwarranted surveillance and potential violations of civil liberties, are central to⁣ the ⁢ongoing discussion. The report serves as a stark reminder of the importance of robust oversight and accountability mechanisms to ensure the ethical and responsible use of such powerful tools.

During the Adams governance, the NYPD has increasingly relied upon drones for various purposes — from attempting to locate lost swimmers on the city’s beaches; to assisting the FDNY in ⁣battling wildfires; to monitoring protests; ‍and to locating alleged criminals.

In November, Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD brass announced a new drone first responder ⁣program in⁤ Central Park and at five other ⁢police precincts across the city‍ to ⁣add extra sets of eyes on the communities.

“We are leveraging the latest technology to enhance the NYPD’s ‌emergency-response capabilities, remotely sending drones to the exact longitude and latitude of where ⁣an emergency call ‌comes ⁣and ⁣sometiems ‍in as little as a minute,” Mayor Adams said during the ‍Nov.‌ 13 announcement. “These drones⁢ will⁣ mean more efficient‍ policing and will help increase ⁣the ⁢safety of our responding NYPD officers and New Yorkers.”

But the DOI’s ‌report released Wednesday found that the NYPD’s IUP concerning⁣ drones did not “sufficiently disclose⁢ all of the information required by the POST Act, and does not ‍provide a complete and accurate picture of all aspects⁤ of NYPD” drone operations in practise.”

Such as, though the NYPD’s IUP requires that all drone ‍deployments ⁢are operated and supervised by the Technical Assistance and Response Unit ‍(TARU), ⁢the DOI study found​ that multiple units within the department had their own drone programs — including the Transit ⁤Bureau, the Highway Patrolos’ Collision Technician Group, the Emergency Services Unit, the Counterterrorism Division and the office of the Chief of Department.

moreover,the study found that ⁤the commanding ‍officer for a newly-formed Drone Team within the ⁣NYPD that consolidated several operational units reports directly to the⁢ Deputy ‌Commissioner of ‍Operations,Kaz Daughtry,rather ⁣than Chief of Department jeffrey⁢ Maddrey,which is in conflict with‍ the chain of‌ command outlined in the NYPD IUP.

the ​NYPD’s drone policy also⁤ does not ‌reflect that flight log information ​for the drones is ⁣now captured in the city’s ⁣FORMS database, so TARU was no‌ longer ⁤required to maintain‌ such logs. it also‍ did not disclose the potential risks for the devices’ ‌lithium-ion batteries,which have been known as notorious firestarters around the city in recent years.

“drones can be a critical public safety tool ‌capable of enhancing NYPD operations,” said⁢ DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E.⁤ Strauber. “However, this​ report found that NYPD’s impact and use policies do not fully and accurately describe the Department’s‍ unmanned aircraft systems’ practices in certain respects and​ issued key⁣ recommendations to achieve that goal.”

The full DOI report can be found online at nyc.gov/doi.

Path of change

The DOI issued 10 recommendations for ⁢the‌ NYPD to follow, ​all of which focus on updating its IUP for drone operations — including clearly outlining the approval, supervision and reporting structure for drone operations; listing all drone capabilities; fully​ disclosing health and safety impacts; and clearly ​establishing that the automated flight log information should be posted in FORMS, ⁢rather than maintained by TARU.

amNewYork Metro reached out to the NYPD for comment and is awaiting ‍a response.

The report did not come‌ as a surprise​ to Albert Fox Cahn, executive director⁢ of the surveillance Technology Oversight Project (STOP) —⁣ a nonprofit watchdog that aims to stop mass surveillance and reinforce individual ⁣rights ⁢to privacy.

Cahn‍ told ​amNewYork Metro that the DOI report “makes clear ‌that ‍the NYPD surveillance apparatus continues to brazenly break the law, and it’s‌ long past time that‌ the City Council‍ takes‌ action.”

“When it comes to NYPD’s illegal drone surveillance, the sky’s the limit,” Cahn said. “The POST act never imagined a mayor who would so openly condone breaking the law, and the Council must amend the POST Act to hold the NYPD to account. The ⁣NYPD’s drone program is blatantly illegal,but it’s ⁣also a massive waste of money,sending drones to New Yorkers who actually need human help in an ​emergency.”