The New York City Police Department (NYPD) plans to deploy an assortment of state-of-the-art drones over the Labor Day weekend. The drones will monitor situations related to the West Indian American Day celebrations. This approach to law enforcement, however, has been heavily criticized by champions of civil liberties.
The deployment of drones is part of the NYPD's updated strategy for policing these annual festivities. In previous years, these events, which conclude on Monday, have unfortunately been tarnished by incidents of violence. Now NYPD officers join forces with representatives from the Department of Buildings and other city offices to address non-emergency disturbances like noise. These incidents often precede more serious unrest, the authorities have noted.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a former NYPD officer himself, addressed concerns about this new approach during a Friday briefing. He argued that the focus isn't on spying on partiers, but on making the department's response more efficient and effective.
“Frequent complaints about disruptive behavior or loud music won't require on-site police response," Adams said. "The drones will assess the situation from a safe distance and help authorities decide if immediate action from crisis management teams is required."
However, critics of drone use for public surveillance argue it comes with an array of concerns. Daniel Schwarz, a privacy specialist at the New York Civil Liberties Union, issued a statement warning against such practices.
"Ubiquitous drone surveillance can easily exploit and discriminate against citizens, jeopardizing all our privacy," stated Schwarz. "More protective measures must be demanded in the face of NYPD's increasing use of these unnerving technologies, particularly given the office's long-established practice of meticulously observing and policing Black and Brown communities."
According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), an increasing number of police departments are adopting drone technologies. An estimated 1,400 departments are already using drones, with numerous others set to deploy them for domestic incident response, wellness checks, and even noise complaints, much like the NYPD's Labor Day weekend plan.
Jay Stanley, an ACLU senior policy advisor, cautioned about the implications of these widespread drone deployments. "An enormous number of drones could be hovering over our cities and towns regularly if each non-emergency scenario warrants a drone response," he said. "Without placing any limitation on this law enforcement strategy, drones could become an everyday presence, a decision that should involve community input and not be at the mayor's discretion."
Teams of officers will operate numerous drones, a significant expansion from previous years when only a few devices were in operation, a law enforcement officer revealed. The drones come equipped with varied capabilities, including audio messaging features or high-powered cameras that live stream footage to NYPD command centers and handheld devices.
Mayor Adams stressed the usefulness of the drones during the West Indian Day Parade and J’Ouvert festival. "We want attendees to have an enjoyable experience," he said. The drones, Adams indicated, would provide instantaneous visualization of incidents, helping staff better evaluate the need for immediate response, thus preempting officers having to navigate crowded streets.
When it came to crowd control at the June Gay Pride Parade, drones were employed for the first time. The devices' sound systems were utilized to disperse massive crowds. Similarly, drones provided aerial surveillance during a crowded event in Union Square in August, when an internet influencer's promise of free gaming equipment turned violent. The upcoming Labor Day weekend surveillance marks the first time drones will be utilized to monitor private gatherings associated with the West Indian celebrations.
