Montgomery County police hold public meeting on new plan to use drones as first responders

[Schipperke]

More background: https://www.mymcmedia.org/police-drone-helps-apprehend-repeat-shoplifter/

Almost a week before Montgomery County Police’s new drone as a first responder program went live, a shoplifter was located and arrested during a trial run.

Police are using two drones, one in the Downtown Silver Spring area and one in the Wheaton business district, to help deter and solve crimes as well as deal with its shortage of officers.

Probably fake, you know geofencing and FAA rules etc.

 

[Occam]

Probably fake, you know geofencing and FAA rules etc.

Their waiver is a mile deep, and what’s really something is it waives the requirement for line of site operations, directly over people and moving vehicles. Every single oh-no-you-don’t checkbox the FAA has for UAVs. Most BLOS is for remote industrial use (pipeline inspection, non-urban package delivery testing in the sticks, that sort of thing.

I’m told off the record that some local county connections with MDW bought a lot of wiggle room most agencies elsewhere wouldn’t get. FAA apparently hated the idea, but got out-juiced.

 

[MigraineMan]

 

[joppaj]

Police Drone Tracks Two Suspects Who Were Breaking Into Cars, Leading to Their Arrest - The MoCo Show

The Montgomery County Police Department recently launched its Drone as First Responder (DFR) Pilot Program to provide air support to 911 or police generated calls for service in a safe,...

mocoshow.com

Assisting with locating two would-be car thieves.

 

[Sunrise]

Police Drone Tracks Two Suspects Who Were Breaking Into Cars, Leading to Their Arrest - The MoCo Show

The Montgomery County Police Department recently launched its Drone as First Responder (DFR) Pilot Program to provide air support to 911 or police generated calls for service in a safe,...

mocoshow.com

Assisting with locating two would-be car thieves.

Now that’s pretty cool.

Good work officers.

 

[Afrikeber]

Police Drones in action at Silver Spring

WATCH: Montgomery County police drone helps nab 2 shoplifting suspects

WATCH: Capture of 2 shoplifting suspects aided by Montgomery Co. police drone - WTOP News

A new Montgomery County, Maryland, program that uses drones as first responders is yielding results.

wtop.com

 

[mpollan1]

Hello prosecution/sentencing, whatcha gonna do?

 

[Afrikeber]

Hello prosecution/sentencing, whatcha gonna do?

That’s the cog in the wheel in most jurisdictions.

Let’s see where DC goes with this?

‘We have an emergency’ — can DC bill address spike in crime? - WTOP News

After finishing 2023 with big spikes in homicides, carjackings, car thefts and other violent crimes, the D.C. Council wants to move aggressively to start 2024.

wtop.com

 

[Sunrise]

Police Drones in action at Silver Spring

WATCH: Montgomery County police drone helps nab 2 shoplifting suspects

WATCH: Capture of 2 shoplifting suspects aided by Montgomery Co. police drone - WTOP News

A new Montgomery County, Maryland, program that uses drones as first responders is yielding results.

wtop.com

Very nice.

Hopefully this program is continued and expanded.

 

[fishgutzy]

MoCo PD updated Motto.
When Seconds Count, Help is at least an Hour and three drone flights away.

 

[Sunrise]

That’s the cog in the wheel in most jurisdictions.

Let’s see where DC goes with this?

‘We have an emergency’ — can DC bill address spike in crime? - WTOP News

After finishing 2023 with big spikes in homicides, carjackings, car thefts and other violent crimes, the D.C. Council wants to move aggressively to start 2024.

wtop.com

I don't expect things to improve until the MPD gets back to around 4,000 officers.

Monthly Staffing Reports | mpdc

Pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 5-113.01(c), the following includes the Metropolitan Police Department’s monthly staffing reports for fiscal years 2018 through 2024. The reports reflect the number of sworn members by rank employed by each MPD bureau, division, and, where applicable, police...

mpdc.dc.gov

Staffing Report - January 2024: https://mpdc.dc.gov/sites/default/f...tent/attachments/Staffing_Report_JAN_2024.pdf

It's currently at 3,342 including recruits. There simply aren't enough officers on the street.

 

[Sunrise]

MoCo PD updated Motto.
When Seconds Count, Help is at least an Hour and three drone flights away.

People voted for this. They keep voting for this.

 

[MaxVO2]

People voted for this. They keep voting for this.

****This. And somehow, it’s Trumps fault!

 

[RFBfromDE]

People voted for this. They keep voting for this.

****This. And somehow, it’s Trumps fault!

News flash!

Dathan blames Moses.

Film at eleven....

 

[Sunrise]

County police tout success of drone program during Moore’s visit

The program involves two drones in downtown Silver Spring and downtown Wheaton that can be sent to crime scenes to assess the area before officers arrive.

moco360.media

Moore said he was impressed by the demonstration and the anecdotes from officers.
….

County Executive Marc Elrich (D) said during the tour that the county is looking to expand to the program, but this depends on funding availability. He said it’s a priority for him.

Jones said he supports expanding the program.

“This has been very fruitful … we’ve been able to de-escalate lots of situations. I think this is a win for us,” Jones said.

 

[Sunrise]

Data is in:

Drone as First Responder Program, Department of Police, Montgomery County, MD

Since 10/4/2023:

Drone As First Responder (DFR)

Total Calls Responded To: 364
DRF Deployment Avoided Dispatching A Patrol Unit: 37
DFR First On Scene Count: 253
AVG Response Times - First On Scene (In Seconds): 64.44
AVG Response Times - All Calls (In Seconds): 76.13

The drones are currently based out of Silver Spring (3rd District) and Wheaton (4th District) with a 1.2 NM flight range. According to reports, the county is hoping to expand the program if there’s more room in the budget for locations in Gaithersburg and Bethesda.

 

[Bob A]

County police tout success of drone program during Moore’s visit

The program involves two drones in downtown Silver Spring and downtown Wheaton that can be sent to crime scenes to assess the area before officers arrive.

moco360.media

Moore said he was impressed by the demonstration and the anecdotes from officers.
….

County Executive Marc Elrich (D) said during the tour that the county is looking to expand to the program, but this depends on funding availability. He said it’s a priority for him.

Jones said he supports expanding the program.

“This has been very fruitful … we’ve been able to de-escalate lots of situations. I think this is a win for us,” Jones said.

From the article linked above:

"The drones do not have face recognition technology and are not permitted for surveillance use, including of “First Amendment protected events” unless there is an immediate safety concern or threat, according to Earl Stoddard, director of the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security."

*****
Hmm, I think we can arrange a suitable threat. We'll put our Top Men on it.

I have no problem believing that our benevolent government can solve any problem in a manner that suits their preferences.