AGENCY TESTIMONY
Overview of DOI's 2024 report on NYPD's drone program
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ยท
64 sec
Commissioner Strauber introduces the 2024 POST Act report, which focused on NYPD's use of drones or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The report examined the department's drone program and its implementation since its announcement in 2018.
- NYPD uses drones for search and rescue, disaster response, crime scene documentation, crowd monitoring, and situational awareness
- The Technical Assistance Response Unit (TARU) was initially tasked with implementing the program
- Drone usage has increased significantly, with over 4,000 flight missions in 2023
- Drones are used for various priority calls, including missing person searches and responses to ShotSpotter alerts
Jocelyn Strauber
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I'm gonna turn now to our 2024 post act report, which focused on NYPD's use of drones or unmanned aircraft systems, UAS.
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The department employs drones to further search and rescue missions, disaster responses, documentation of traffic accidents and crime scenes, crowd monitoring, and for situational awareness in active shooter and hostage situations.
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NYPD's drone program was first announced in 2018.
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At that time, officers assigned to TARU, the technical assistance response unit, which provides NYPD with equipment and tactical support and specializes in audio visual technology, was tasked with implementation of the program.
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Since that time, the NYPD's drone usage has increased.
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In 2023, the department reportedly deployed drones on over 4,000 flight missions, including responding to 2,300 priority calls for service, including searches for missing people, alerts from the ShotSpotter gunshot detection system, and crimes in progress as needed.