Seattle Police say their drones won’t be spying on you

Simply put, SPD’s drones, are just remote controlled helicopters that can take digital photos under “mission-specific” circumstances.

Seattle Police officers say that since news of their
Unmanned Aerial System hit the street, people have been
making Orwellian references and have told them they’re
concerned drones will “spy” on them.

It won’t, according to SPD officers Jim Britt and Reuben
Omelanchuk. Simply, the drone is a remote controlled
helicopter that takes aerial photos and videos.

Britt said the need for the unmanned aerial system started
coming up on SPD’s radar because of the limitations of
King County’s Guardian I.

“I’d be chasing a guy over a fence and thinking it’d be
really nice to have a helicopter,” Britt tells 97.3 KIRO FM’s Ron & Don
Show. “It turns out those things are really
expensive,” he laughs.

Seattle Police use the helicopter to investigate accident
scenes that span five or six blocks as well as difficult
search and rescue operations. Police are also required to
take overhead photographs for officer involved shootings.

But, what has had the cops taking a lot of heat are rumors
that the drones could be flying over you at any time. That
rumor is false, the officers say, the helicopter is used
on mission-specific operations. “We’re not on a fishing
expedition,” says Britt.

In fact, the issue of what drones can and cannot do has
been to the Supreme Court twice. “Looking into someone’s
house, with or without the drone, requires a warrant,”
says Britt.

There are two drones locally, one operated by the Seattle
Police Department, and one operated by the King County
Sheriff’s Department.

More:
Photos: Seattle Police show off their drone
to Ron & Don