The Albuquerque Police Department’s new drone surveillance program has assisted in four arrests during its first month of operation, but civil liberties advocates are raising concerns about privacy protections and community input in the program’s deployment.
The program, which launched in August, has conducted more than 200 flights using drones housed in strategically placed “hives” on rooftops and city facilities throughout Albuquerque. The unmanned aircraft can deploy within 90 seconds to respond to emergency calls, according to Police Chief Harold Medina and Mayor Tim Keller.
“This program represents a huge leap forward for public safety in Albuquerque,” Keller said during an announcement last week. “We are embracing innovation to give our officers the tools they need to fight crime more effectively, while also helping keep them and our community safe.”…