Drone Use By Arlington Police, Fire Departments To Begin In 2024

ARLINGTON, VA — Arlington County is seeking public input on a plan to allow the police department and other public safety agencies in the county to use drones to respond to emergency incidents and provide public safety at special events.

The drones would be used for search and rescue, disaster damage assessments, crash and crime scene reconstruction, fire incident management, special event “situation awareness,” and hazardous materials response, the county said.

Arlington County officials say the drones will not be used to conduct random surveillance activities; harass and intimidate people or group; support any facial or license plate recognition technology; carry or deploy any types of weapons; or monitor traffic for the purpose of issuing traffic citations.

The draft policies for the plan, known as the Unmanned Aircraft Systems program, were developed based on recommendations by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services, Department of Homeland Security, and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Residents are invited to provide feedback on the draft policies regulating the training, operations, and oversight of the program. All comments provided will be reviewed and evaluated for incorporation into the policies, the county said.

Arlington has created a feedback form to submit comments, which are due by Jan. 1, 2024. The county expects to implement its drone program in early 2024.