Aerial Drones Becoming Part Of New Berlin Police Equipment

NEW BERLIN, WI — The New Berlin Police Department introduced unmanned aerial drones into its cache of resources starting Wednesday, the agency announced in a Facebook post.

The department said it's been researching the costs and benefits of drones over the past few years. During that time, drone technology has improved and become more common in public safety. Nearby, Franklin police occasionally use drones during investigations.

Those involved in New Berlin's research decided drones would improve officer safety and provide a modern resource, police said in the statement, so drones were introduced on Wednesday.

Police plan on using the unmanned drones during searches for missing people or crime suspects, help during tactical operations, documentation of crime scenes and crashes, damage assessment after natural disasters, during city mapping projects, during fires, and more, police said.

With that, police say the drones will never be used for random surveillance or to observe people who have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Additionally, the drones will never carry weapons, NBPD said.

More information about New Berlin's new police drone policy is available through the city's website.