Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) commonly referred to as drones are increasingly being utilized by various entities and organizations. The users embracing the drone technology include the police or any other military department, government, recreational organizations, and many more. The drones are remotely operated by a pilot or can be pre-programmed independently using automation equipment. In 2000 and 2001, the drones were majorly preferred equipment that was strongly utilized by the military as well as the CIA. Both George Bush’s and Barack Obama’s administrations capitalized on armed drones as a fundamental tool for the security of their nation (Heen, Lieberman, & Miethe, 2016; Bentley, 2018). With the rising dynamism in the world today, such technology is readily available and affordable, giving room for arguments on whether the pros outweigh the recent ethical and legal fears or not. The findings of this research indicate that UAVs are instrumental in search and rescue operations, active firearms, surveillance operations as well as being profitable at the same time. However, the advantages can be countered to some extent based on legal fears, abuse, and a bad perception that people have concerning the utilization of drones.
Pros of Drones
Drones can be utilized in the police department to facilitate search and rescue operations. In times of eventualities within and outside the city, the drones can be very instrumental in those areas. They can be remotely controlled to deliver emergency items in those places of disasters other than using vehicles that can take a long time to do that because of distance or traffic. Natural disasters like hurricanes, massive snowfalls, flood, and wildfires have commonly been reported in the United States. In such cases, drones are dispatched to regions that are even sometimes inaccessible to some level to help locate and rescue survivors (Tuttle et al., 2016). For instance, drones were very instrumental in determining flood damages that occurred in Florida and Texas hurricanes. Drones present high-quality aerial photographs and pictures. The military can rely on the quality aerial imaging of the drones to gather increased levels of imaging information. Such high-quality imaging data can be utilized to make 3-D maps and engaging 3D frameworks for analysis of situations in the disaster regions (Custers, 2016). The police department can be prepared for the future attacks in a better way through the analysis of these pictures to access hazardous areas.
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Another case happened when the military department of the US used remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) to determine crucial infrastructures and sensitive buildings following the Haiti earthquake that occurred in 2010. Predator RPAs were also deployed to gather full-motion live pictures in the operations and of specific regions in the nations (Tuttle et al., 2016). Some search and rescue missions where drones are instrumental include getting isolated individuals (including the nighttime were drones that have thermal cameras). Drones become preferable to rescue teams that are ground-based since they can be flexibly utilized to determine disruptions of power lines, structures, bridges and many more.
Next, the police department utilizes drones in tactical and defensive situations like active shooter occasions. Several instances of active shootouts abound, which normally leave several injured persons within a short while as a result. Such active shooters could be during the cases of terrorism, protests, raid of the gangsters, and many more. A drone can be dislodged to the site of active shooters before the arrival of the law enforcement officers who will clearly figure out the shooters. The CIA can as well as gather fresh evidence from the event. It is cheaper and more effective to deploy a drone than a helicopter. It may be challenging or even very treacherous to capture live graphics data (Custers, 2016). The helicopters have low light video cameras that are not effective as much as drones, which gives a faster, real-time comprehensive data. The police officers can locate the shooters, determine how many they are, identify casualties and facilitate the saving of lives to halt further injuries. Such occasions can also be captured and reserved for firsthand training tools for the police officers.
Correspondingly, police officers utilize drones for the purposes of surveillance, particularly for police activities that entails a lot of time waiting and watching for a particular subject. Drones become the eyes in the sky for police officers who can search and locate all the things of the ground. They capitalize on the high imaging quality of the drones that are also equipped with GPS so that they can offer precision. Law enforcement officers could utilize drones in regions that they can precisely monitor, especially when they are in the unfavorable position of a surveillance operation (Heen et al., 2016). They use drones so that they cannot be marked, noticed, or compromise safety in some way. Drones can be x flown and landed remotely, with their rotors switched off whereas the camera is still on with the ability to zoom in and out from a strategic position that the enemy may not notice. They are also utilized to lookout for intensive crime regions so that comprehensive coverage of the activities of the criminals can be taken (Tuttle et al., 2016). A drone will move more quickly for surveillance than a helicopter that may take some time to lift off. Therefore, through drones, the response time of law enforcement officers are immediate – less than two minutes.
Another significant basis for proceeding with the acquisition of the drones is because they are cost effective. While some drones are seriously expensive, the advancement of technology has availed a few more that have a low price in the recent time. The police department can easily afford them as well as fly them. The cost-effectiveness also comes about since they are easily deployable. Users that have comparatively less experience can fly most drones. According to Bentley (2018), the drones can fly in lower altitudes and in flexible directions causing them to be operated in traditionally in inaccessible regions at a low cost. Drones are very economical as they attract less maintenance than other types of aircraft. The spare parts are at a low cost that can fit the budget of the police department significantly. Some agencies may not even be capable of acquiring a helicopter or hire one for their surveillance, and in that case, drones come in handy (Heen et al., 2016). The utilization of drones may also save the police department from dealing with unwanted cases of using force to exercise their duty. Therefore, the acquisition of drones will offer the Virtual Police Department with an opportunity to save many financial resources.
Cons of Drones
In contrast, the purchase and deployment of drones would attract legal implications like complaints of violating the privacy rights of the public according to the Fourth Amendment. In fact, this is the main concern of utilizing drones. The Fourth Amendment goes ahead to specify that, “It is the right of individuals to feel safe in their personalities, residences, and documents…against irrationals seizures and searches, should not be violated… (Tuttle et al., 2016)” The deployment of drones for searches and seizures of the people without a warrant violate their right against irrational searches. Moreover, the potential of the drone technology to fly in public highways at whichever speed and altitudes without being noticed, to secretly record and perform inclusive government surveillance operations of the public constitutes an abuse of citizens’ privacy rights (Custers, 2016). Consequently, the courts may be needed to adjust this subject of police use of drones to perform local surveillance. Before that it is done, the acquisition and use of drones might be costly.
Similarly, it is likely that police officers may abuse the usage of drones. Drones are autonomous technologies that have high resolutions, sensors, and audio potentials, which may present many temptations to law enforcement officers to abuse the privacy of citizens. The officers may use the drones to spy the public without having warrants that are given by the court. Even with the proper utilization of drones, the police officers will always be suspected of abusing their power (Heen et al., 2016). In addition, the citizens will negatively perceive some police officers using drones in their day-to-day policing activities. The officers may benefit a lot from the pros of drones. Nonetheless, hurtful and improper utilization of the drones may amount to difficult situations like legitimacy and adhering to the law may cause public delusions concerning the concept. Individuals can frankly determine if the officers are utilizing drones to gather too much information for the wrong reasons (Bentley, 2018). Consequently, the public may not agree with the program that may impede the acquisition of the drones.
In conclusion, comprehensive research on the advantages and disadvantages of the utilization of drones by the police department reveals that surveillance drones are more beneficial than otherwise. Nonetheless, the disadvantages indicated in this research would have to be examined further for the sake of public interest as well as awareness. The public awareness and acceptance of drones is critical before the police department purchases and utilizes them for the right reasons. Therefore, the Virtual city should go ahead to acquire the drones as it will enable the law enforcement officers to carry out their duties of search and rescue operations, active shoot out, and surveillance effectively. They will also save a lot of money as the drones can be used in place of the helicopters. The department should be able to respond to the legal and ethical concerns that this move will illicit as well as the negative public view.
References
Bentley, J. M. (2018). Policing the Police: Balancing the Right to Privacy against the Beneficial Use of Drone Technology. Hastings LJ , 70 , 249.
Custers, B. (2016). Future of Drone Use . TMC Asser Press.
Heen, M. S., Lieberman, J. D., & Miethe, T. D. (2016). Eyes in the Sky: Public Attitudes towards Police Use of Drone Technology.
Tuttle, O. G., Heen, M. S., Sakiyama, M., Miethe, T. D., & Lieberman, J. D. (2016). Power of Perspective: The Effects of Public Perceptions of Police and Fear of Crime on Attitudes towards Aerial Drone Use.
