(InvestigateTV) — Police departments across the country are increasingly turning to drones as first responders, with the technology proving effective at finding missing people and tracking suspects in violent crimes. But civil liberties experts worry about potential misuse against citizens.
The Drone as First Responder Program allows police departments to pre-position drones at multiple launch stations rather than officers releasing aircraft once they arrive on the scene. About 1,500 police departments now have some sort of drone program, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Chula Vista, California, became the first police department in the country to launch the program in 2018. Chief Roxana Kennedy said the drones give police a tool in the sky to help officers on the ground handle emergencies like robberies, shootings, traffic crashes and fires…