Technology

Drones Over D.C.? Metro Police Chiefs Grilled on UAVs, Illegal Immigrants, & Cops on Cellphones — See How They Responded

DC Metro Police Chiefs Discuss Drones, Illegal Immigration, License Plate Readers and More

(Photo: PWCPD)

A couple police chiefs in the Washington, D.C., metro area spoke on a local radio station’s “Ask the Chief” Q&A session this morning. Topics ranged from use of drones by the local police forces, illegal immigrants, license plate readers, and speed cameras. Their answers give a peek into the policing is done, and may soon be conducted, in the nation’s capital.

The most timely part of the discussion reported by WTOP radio was the use of unmanned aerial vehicles by local authorities. The Blaze has reported several instances where police forces have begun using the technology once thought reserved for warfare and how even hobbyists have used drones in protests or to spot crimes. With the Electronic Freedom Frontier obtaining documents on just what organizations have permission for drones from the Federal Aviation Administration through a FOIA request, drone use within the United States continues to be a hot topic. The FAA Modernization and Reform Act was passed in Congress earlier this year and is expected to be signed into law by the President to create new regulations that would further open the sky for private, commercial and military drones in the United States by 2015. This same act would also would deploy up to 30,000 military drones into U.S. skies by 2020.

WTOP included some concern over the pervasive nature of drone technology and the use of them on American soil (or sky) from Congress members:

“The potential for invasive surveillance of daily activities with drone technology is high,” wrote Rep. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., in an April 19 letter to FAA. “We must ensure that as drones take flight in domestic airspace, they don’t take off without privacy protections for those along their flight path.”

Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, said in the same letter he “proudly suppported” the FAA Modernization and Reform Act that allowed for the domestic use of drones. There are many institutions in his home state that the FAA has cleared for done use, including Texas A&M University, and the police forces in the city of Arlington outside Dallas-Fort Worth and in Montgomery County near Houston.

“However, if used improperly or unethically, drones could endanger privacy and I want to make sure that risk is taken into consideration,” he said.

DC Metro Police Chiefs Discuss Drones, Illegal Immigration, License Plate Readers and More

Chief David Rohrer (Photo: FCPD)

What did the police chiefs from departments in Fairfax County and Prince William County — both in Virginia — think about the use of drones?

“Drones will certainly have a purpose and a reason to be in this region in the next, coming years,” said Fairfax County Police Chief David Rohrer on WTOP’s “Ask the Chief”. “Just as a standpoint as an alternative for spotting traffic and sending information back to our VDOT Smart Traffic centers, and being able to observe backups.”

Prince William County Police Chief Charlie Deane on the other hand is not pursuing drones. He said, ”I really haven’t studied them that much. I‘m sure they’re valuable to some degree, but I don’t know about their capabilities.”

The discussion also broached license plate readers. Both departments have the technology, data from which the chiefs said is retained for less than a year. In Nov. 2011, the Blaze brought to reader’s attention a Washington Post investigation into the Dictrict’s license plate readers on both vehicles and stationary sites. In the metro area, more than 250 cameras reported as taking 1,800 images per minute. The Post reported that privacy advocates were less concerned over the readers being in use and more about how long data was maintained and the reasons for which it could be accessed:

Should someone access the database for something other than a criminal investigation, they could track people doing legal but private things. Having a comprehensive database could mean government access to information about who attended a political event, visited a medical clinic, or went to Alcoholics Anonymous or Planned Parenthood.

Deane is reported as saying some of the data coming in from the license plate readers is “fascinating.”

DC Metro Police Chiefs Discuss Drones, Illegal Immigration, License Plate Readers and More

Chief Charlie Deane (Photo: PWCPD)

The chiefs also discussed illegal immigrants in the area, specifically Deane whose department WTOP reports has been nationally recognized for checking the citizenship of everyone that’s arrested:

Deane: Our policy is simple. We investigate the immigration policy of anyone who is arrested, regardless of their nationality.

From a policy standpoint, we focus on individuals who are in the country illegally who have committed a crime. We are not doing random checks.

Part of our policy, very firmly entrenched with our officers, is to protect the status of people who are victims of crimes, regardless of their immigration status. “We do not participate in racial profiling.”

We report any illegal immigrants to federal law enforcement.

It’s certainly an increase in work “but it’s a part of our business today.”

Rohrer chimed in saying although it is not required to check status of citizenship by his department, officers are trained in how to raise these questions. Rohrer also emphasized, “we are not a sanctuary.”

Other topics of discussion included speed cameras, horse stabbings, and use of cellphones by officers while driving. As for the latter, it will, for now, remain allowable. Deane said he anticipates officers will be banned from using handsets at some point, while Rohrer said he wouldn’t go that far, noting he believes there will occasionally be times when the officer would need to use a phone while driving.

Check out WTOP’s full blog post for more on what was said during “Ask the Chief” here.

Featured image: WTOP/Paul Shinkman

[H/T Drudge Report]

 

Comments (29)

  • 22mama
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 7:17am

    Big Brother is called Big Brother for a reason. It is because Big Brother thinks that we little brothers and little sisters are too ignorant and can’t take care of our selves. Big Brother thinks we are stupid heads.

    Report Post »  
  • supermansdad
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 5:28am

    Drones are very little in difference than your average police chopper except smaller, less costly and can’t carry armed officers. Many medium to small dept. would love to have a chopper but can’t afford it, drones of various size would allow them have an eye in the sky.

    Havnt heard of many police helicopters armed with Hellfire missles so I don’t expect the drones to either.

    These same arguments about ghestopo type tactics have been said about nearly every advancement in policing from the motorbike to semiautomatic pistols. Go take your meds and take the foil hat off your head, it looks dumb.

    Report Post »  
  • morrothmor
    Posted on May 1, 2012 at 1:48am

    And where is the DOJ on this, the DC Metro Police Chef just said they investigate the immigration status or everyone they arrest. Isnt this just like the Arizona law

    Report Post »  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on April 30, 2012 at 8:24pm

    Yes, drones will certainly have a purpose and a reason to be used in the coming years,” I guess that they will be used as obama is useing them now– no captures, no arrest or trials just blow up the supects

    Report Post »  
    • hidden_lion
      Posted on April 30, 2012 at 8:46pm

      That is why you shoot down any drone you see, regardless who owns it…Need a big net that can be launched from a tube or just do like the Iranians and jam the signal and capture one for yourself.

      Report Post » hidden_lion  
  • bigdaddybernie
    Posted on April 30, 2012 at 7:47pm

    Who‘s watchin’ the watchers. Rohrer even looks like a n@z1

    Report Post »  
  • trueamerican40
    Posted on April 30, 2012 at 6:27pm

    I bet if a drone crashed in my backyard, this guberment would hit the blowup switch. I guess they trust the Iranians more than they do us. :..(…

    Report Post » trueamerican40  
  • common cents
    Posted on April 30, 2012 at 6:25pm

    “Drone hunting” will become a great sport!

    Report Post »  
  • roxy
    Posted on April 30, 2012 at 6:03pm

    Target practice, anyone? If the iranians can shoot one down, the drones might be too easy. If a drone flew in our neck of the woods…lol!

    Report Post »  
  • cemerius
    Posted on April 30, 2012 at 4:55pm

    As if the sky wasn’t filled by many aircraft already….word to all if you conduct a crime do it near a busy airport…..dependency on these drones are going to put law enforcement out of jobs…..

    Report Post » cemerius  
    • HorseCrazy
      Posted on April 30, 2012 at 7:29pm

      hopefully the police unions will figure that out and get rid of them.

      Report Post »  
  • Smokey_Bojangles
    Posted on April 30, 2012 at 4:29pm

    See a drone over your house spying on you? Thank a Republican. Such as Allen West.

    Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
  • blackyb
    Posted on April 30, 2012 at 3:59pm

    Congress is trying to make it easy to get out of being arrested because many of them know the truth and are going along with Obama who is wanting illegals to be legal. Is he one of them would be my next question. Where are the men with backbone who is supposed to be protecting this country as our congressmen? Who is protecting this Constitution they all have sworn to uphold? If they do not stand and protect this country, then they are not fit to serve as Congressmen/women.

    Report Post » blackyb  
  • gdbhusker
    Posted on April 30, 2012 at 3:57pm

    want to see whats next????? just grab a history book, look at 1930′s Nazi Germany and you have the current, and the last Administrations of the United States of America!!! I used to get so very upset when people would say Bush was a fascist, heck I even got upset when they said Obama was a commie….but my eyes have been opened and the two party’s are one in the same….and we are doing exactly what the Nazis did…….before the USA stopped them…..the only question now is….who are we trying to exterminate and WHO can stop us? the thing most people need to ask themselves is if they believed that the German people were Nazis, or just people doing what their told…….the answer is that the people believed they were doing good..until they realized they were all evil…..how many freedoms have you given up in the name of terrorism???? how many more are you willing to give up in order to remain safe from a fictional character?..and if terrorism is the “threat” they say it is….who cares…..would you live as a slave????This country (once great) has some tough questions, answer, and solutions ahead of it…and I am afraid that the current flavor of tattooed, over macho, drugged out , whack jobs will fail to meet the challenge!!!

    Report Post » gdbhusker  
    • ChiefGeorge
      Posted on April 30, 2012 at 4:19pm

      We look exactly like Germany in the 30s. We have moved so far towards tyranny in this country its amazing to see, but you cannot see it unless you stand waaaay back and look at who we are now versus who we used to be. Kirk Cameron is right! The fruit of who we are is rotten to the core. People who become so self absorbed about their everyday lives care not what happens to others that they begin to look a lot like those people in Germany who began to do well under the new National Socialist State created by the NAZI’s. They like having pride in their country once again and having a decent standard of living. Then they were told they would have to fight every tom dick and harry to keep it growing. America is Germany today and we are the same fools following misguided shepherds into the wilderness. China and Russia have their own self interests and they will not sit idly by while American runs rip shod over everyone else to maintain our standard of living. This is where Bravo.Hotel.Oscar‘s message has a political cover that I don’t think many are looking at. In essence his message cuts both ways. To us its about reducing our standard of living so many more can have a better life, to our enemies its a signal that we are turning on ourselves because of our over the top living standards that deprive the world of social justice because we consume so much of the worlds energy. That is a recipe for takeover to stop America from maintaining its own selfish lifestyles.

      Report Post » ChiefGeorge  
  • blackyb
    Posted on April 30, 2012 at 3:56pm

    Until Obama is proven to be where he is and is eligible, he should not be allowed to cause the arrest of anyone. If Holder is not vetting this man, then he should be jailed for that as well. Holder would be a party to treason if it is found Obama is not eligible to be President. We have a right to know everything about this man who is sitting in the Office of Our President.

    Report Post » blackyb  
  • blackyb
    Posted on April 30, 2012 at 3:53pm

    Way to go Charles Deane. Take them all in and fine them enough to put some more men on duty.

    Report Post » blackyb  
  • blackyb
    Posted on April 30, 2012 at 3:51pm

    Who cares where people go if they are trying to get better? At least they know they need help. Those who are still doing things are the ones you have to worry about. Most of those creating havoc have not got a full load of brains. They are the ones being used by the Obama henchmen and those trying to wreck havoc on this nation. They are like a living dead phenomenom.

    Report Post » blackyb  
  • lukerw
    Posted on April 30, 2012 at 3:48pm

    And ‘Whom will protect us from the Guards that we employ to Guard & Protect us?’

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • blackyb
    Posted on April 30, 2012 at 3:46pm

    Some people have drone food, these little drone critters will come too, so they can be reused. They only have technology that some really true Americans have given them. These people will know where to go when the time comes.

    Report Post » blackyb  
  • MittensKittens
    Posted on April 30, 2012 at 3:41pm

    In the grand scheme of things, we the people still outnumber the government by far…More American citizens have firearms than all the government combined. That’s what “they” are afraid of!

    Report Post » MittensKittens  
  • Mark0331
    Posted on April 30, 2012 at 3:38pm

    We, the people, We sorround YOU!..remember that.

    Report Post » Mark0331  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on April 30, 2012 at 3:35pm

    And so the massive growth of government more and more into our daily lives continues; soon enough the demand will be ‘papers please…’ while they prepare to put a pistol to your head, if you are lucky enough that they do not just up and shoot you on the spot.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • deeberj
      Posted on April 30, 2012 at 4:06pm

      Big Brother. My boss and I have been trying to tell our co-workers for years that the gov‘t is getting more and more intrusive and at first they didn’t want to hear. Now some of them see it.

      Report Post » deeberj  
    • ChiefGeorge
      Posted on April 30, 2012 at 4:21pm

      Papers?

      They’ll be scanning your chip by then Snow.

      Report Post » ChiefGeorge  

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