The St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners voted Wednesday to approve a Drone as First Responder program, as Mayor Cara Spencer criticized the police department for calling a last-minute meeting to authorize the project.
The Aerial Response Unit will allow the department to stage six drones on docks throughout the city based on crime trends and 911 calls. Maj. Joe Morici, who is spearheading the project, told the board the drones will not patrol neighborhoods and will instead be deployed in response to calls for service.
“It’s not going to be flying around doing surveillance,” Morici said…