Seattle Mayor McGinn kills drone program

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn says he and Seattle Police Chief John Diaz have agreed to end the unmanned aerial drone program.

“We have a lot of priority work ahead of us in regard to public safety and community building and this just wasn’t a priority,” McGinn said in an interview with KIRO Radio.”

McGinn said too much time and energy was being devoted to debate. He said the two drones purchased by the department would be returned to the vender.

“It was a pragmatic decision to focus on what was most important,” McGinn said.

Thursday afternoon’s announcement comes one day after an emotional City Council public hearing that saw critics dominate, with most expressing significant concerns about privacy violations.

McGinn insisted he and Chief Diaz were in “complete agreement” on terminating the program.