St. Louis police drone unit responds to first 911 call hours after program approval

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Aerial Response Unit responded to its first 911 call Wednesday, hours after the Board of Police Commissioners passed the program.

The launch marked the start of the department’s “Drone as First Responders” program. Chief Robert Tracy watched as the department’s first drone was launched from the Real Time Crime Center.

First mission

The drone is stationed at North Patrol. Its first mission was a report of a suspicious person.

“This was a suspicious person that was knocking on doors and going through alleys, so a person called in, we were able to put the drone in the air as cars were dispatched,” Tracy said.

The drone travels at speeds up to 35 mph and reached the scene in minutes. Nothing was found from the air, and officers were called off.

Uses and safeguards

Tracy said the drones can be used in many situations and can help keep officers and people safer.

“If someone needs medical assistance, we can guide first responders and EMS. If it’s something where a weapon is involved, we can make sure we can tell our officers, ‘This is what you’re walking into,’” Tracy said.

Asked how the department will ensure the cameras are not misused, Tracy said policy, guardrails and audits are needed.

“With any type of technology, you have to have guardrails in place, you have to have good policy in place, you have to make sure you’re doing audits, so they’re not being misused,” Tracy said. “We want to protect people’s civil liberties, we want to protect people’s constitutional rights, we want to be within the laws because this is good technology that can help and we don’t want to lose that. If there are any violations with this, we will make sure they get addressed immediately.”

Footage storage and release

Tracy said footage can be stored up to 30 days, unless it is part of a longer investigation.

Asked about releasing footage to the public, Tracy said the department reviews it to determine whether it can be released.

“When it’s sunshinable, we take a look to see if we can release it right away, absolutely,” Tracy said. “If it’s something we can’t release, we’ll be guided by a sunshine lawyer.”

Drone count and funding

The department has six drones. Each costs $100,000. The St. Louis Police Foundation paid for them.

Asked whether six drones is the beginning, Tracy said it is.

“We have some holes, we have two other drones that are coming to South Patrol.”

Tracy said the department discussed a Model Cities initiative grant Wednesday.

“There is money in there, hopefully when they make that announcement, we plan on getting additional drones,” he said.

Tracy said the department plans to hire more drone operators. Each must go through the FAA certification process.

The department also launched a page on its website to show flight paths and provide more information about the drone program.