Grand Rapids police propose drone purchase
The police department of Grand Rapids, Michigan, will propose the purchase of six drones with a combined cost of US$100,000
The Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD) will hold a community meeting on 6 June to discuss the proposal.
The meeting will cover how the GRPD intends to use the equipment to support public safety, how it will ensure the protection of privacy, and how sufficient oversight will be given to the initiative by the municipal government.
In addition to the core acquisition cost of $100,000, the proposal would also include additional costs to cover video storage and training.
The drones would be used in a variety of roles, including monitoring dangerous driving, assisting in missing person searches and the apprehension of fleeing felons, aiding in accident scene reconstruction, and monitoring civil unrest and large gatherings.
France recently revised its laws to permit the use of drones by police for aerial surveillance purposes.