Huntington Beach said Tuesday it is adding three drones to its police force, joining an increasing number of U.S. cities using remote “eyes in the sky” to respond to crimes and other emergencies.
“ These drones can save a lot of time, save a lot of lives, and really become a force multiplier in service to the people,” said Mayor Pat Burns, a retired Long Beach Police officer who spoke at a news conference and demo to roll out the new law enforcement hardware.
What can the drones do?
City leaders say the drones can respond to an emergency faster and more efficiently than officers and vehicles on the ground. Officers can send out a drone in response to an emergency call, then monitor the drone’s footage from a dispatch center, assess the situation, and brief their colleagues on the ground.
Detective Taylor Davoren, a drone pilot, said the machines will help catch and convict criminals…