GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Gwinnett County police started flying drones to some emergency calls Thursday, and they say the cameras will often reach a scene before the first officer gets there.
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Analysts in the department’s Situational Awareness and Crime Response Center can launch the two drones remotely from docking stations at the North and Central precincts.
“When deployed, these drones are going to often arrive prior to officers, providing an aerial view and a better understanding of what’s going on at a scene while officers are still en route,” Cpl. Angela Carter with Gwinnett County police told Channel 2 Gwinnett County bureau chief Matt Johnson.
County commissioners approved up to $272,000 for the Skydio drones in July as a consent agenda item, buying them from Axon Enterprise.
Other departments in Gwinnett County already fly drones. Snellville police said one of theirs watched an armed suspect from nearly 200 feet up in July, so officers knew his hands were empty before they moved in.
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The ACLU of Georgia is pushing a model ordinance, known as CCOPS, that would require public hearings before purchases like these.
“If you’re thinking about surveillance technology in your community, make sure your elected officials come to you first instead of them buying it,” said Christopher Bruce, the group’s deputy executive director.
Police say the drones will only answer calls for service.
“They’re not gonna be used to patrol areas, look into people’s backyards, nothing like that,” Carter said.
Police call the two drones Phase One and say any more will be announced later.
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